Methanol Synthesis from H₂/CO/CO₂ over CNT-Promoted Cu-ZnO-Al₂O₃ Catalyst

Abstract

Highly active multiwalled-carbon-nanotubes (symbolized as CNTs)-supported catalysts x%CuiZnjAlk/CNTs were prepared, and their catalytic performance for methanol synthesis from H2/CO/CO2 was investigated and compared with the corresponding those supported by AC and γ-Al2O3. The results showed that, over a 32%Cu6Zn3Al1/CNTs catalyst, the intrinsic reaction rate of methanol synthesis at 508 K was 1.38 and 1.42 times as high as those of the AC- and γ-Al2O3-supported catalysts at the respective optimum operating temperatures, 523 and 543 K. The nature of promoter action by the CNTs was discussed together with the results of spectroscopic characterization of the CNT-supported catalysts. The present work indicated that the unique feature of the CNTs in hydrogen-adsorption might play an important role in effectively promoting the methanol synthesis.