A Study on the Effect of ZnAl2O4 Phase on Methanol Production in Cu-ZnO/ZnAl2O4 Catalyst by Zn/Al Composition

Abstract

A methanol synthesis reaction is being studied steadily as a solution for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). Methanol is one of the chemicals widely used worldwide as raw materials for petrochemical products. This study developed and optimized the Cu-Zn/ZnAl2O4 catalyst for methanol synthesis reaction. ZnAl2O4 support with Zn/Al different composition was prepared by co-precipitation method. The Cu-Zn/ZnAl2O4 catalyst was manufactured by the deposit co-precipitation method. A Cu/Zn/Al2O3 catalyst was also made for comparison by co-precipitation. The prepared catalyst was analyzed by N2 physical adsorption, H2-TPR, XRD, and XRF, and the methanol synthesis reaction was performed under conditions at 250 oC, GHSV 4,000 h-1, and 40 bar with H2/CO/CO2/N2 feed gas. Consequently, the Cu-Zn/ZnAl2O4 catalyst showed relatively lower sintering properties than the Cu/Zn/Al2O3 catalyst in high-temperature reaction conditions because it has high thermal stability.