A new method of low-temperature methanol synthesis on Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts from CO/CO2/H2

A new synthesis method of low-temperature methanol proceeded on Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts from CO/CO2/H2 using 2-butanol as promoters. The Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation of r-Al2O3 with an aqueous solution of copper nitrate and zinc nitrate. The total carbon turnover frequency (TOF), the yield and selectivity of methanol were the highest by using the Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst with copper loading of 5% and the Zn/Cu molar ratio of 1/1, which precursor were not calcined, and reduced at 493 K. The activity of the catalysts increased due to the presence of the CuO/ZnO phase in the oxidized form of impregnation Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts. The active sites of the Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst for methanol synthesis are not only metallic Cu but also special sites such as the Cu–Zn site, i.e. metallic Cu and the Cu–Zn site work cooperatively to catalyze the methanol synthesis reaction.