Methanol Synthesis by CO₂ Hydrogenation over Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ Catalysts under Fluctuating Conditions

Abstract

Abstract Methanol synthesis through CO 2 hydrogenation under fluctuating conditions was investigated over a CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst in an integral reactor. The performance of the catalyst was examined under stable conditions at 563 K and 80 bar. For dynamic experiments, the H 2 /CO 2 ratio of the feed gas was changed sequentially. Although the activity and selectivity towards methanol of the catalyst was affected more under dynamic conditions, long‐term stability of the synthesis process was not influenced. The results show that it is possible to operate methanol synthesis with a fluctuating feed gas composition, as it is the case when CO 2 is captured from a power plant and H 2 from an electrolysis unit driven by a regenerative energy source, such as solar or wind power.