Effects of Al and Co Promoters on CuO/SBA-15/Kaolinite Catalyst Properties and CO₂ Hydrogenation at Low Pressure

Abstract

CuO on mesoporous silica catalyst was prepared with post synthesis impregnation method, and the effects of Al and Co promoters on CuO/SBA-15/kaolinite catalyst properties and CO2 hydrogenation were studied. The mixing technology with kaolinite clay (containing Al2O3) was used to obtain the granules and to enhance the CO2 conversion to methanol as a product. The performance of all catalysts for catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 was evaluated on a fixed-bed tubular micro-activity reactor at 20 bar and 250°C with H2/CO2 molar ratio 3:1. XRD analysis, N2 adsorption-desorption analysis and SEM-EDX analysis indicated that the mesoporous structure of SBA-15 remains after loading with CuO and promoters, and after mixing with kaolinite clay. Results were compared with results obtained with commercial CuO/Al2O3 catalyst, which showed high MeOH selectivity (78%) during CO2 hydrogenation reaction.

Effect of the Cu/ZnO/SBA‐15/kaolinite preparation method on the catalyst structural properties and catalytic performance at CO2 hydrogenation at low pressure

“…As explored previous, 30 wt % Cu loading on mesoporous silica (CS_K) with impregnation method resulted in a catalyst with particle agglomerates (Table 1), with large difference between max and min values of Cu content 22 . Thereby ZnO was an important component since it prevents the agglomeration of Cu particles, thus leading to the large Cu surface area which coincides with the considerations of other authors 7 .…”

“…The elemental composition was determined from SEM-EDX analyses, and the average results (from 10 analysis) obtained are presented in As explored previous, 30 wt % Cu loading on mesoporous silica (CS_K) with impregnation method resulted in a catalyst with particle agglomerates (Table 1), with large difference between max and min values of Cu content. 22 Thereby ZnO was an important component since it prevents the agglomeration of Cu particles, thus leading to the large Cu surface area which coincides with the considerations of other authors. 7 ZnO is known as component of the catalyst which has been found to benefit methanol synthesis by modifying the properties of Cu-based catalysts, in particular, the Cu crystallite size.…”