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

¹ Riga Technical University, Institute of Applied Chemistry, Paula Valdena Str. 3, Riga LV-1048, Latvia
² University of Tartu, Institute of Physics, W. Ostwaldi Str. 1, Tartu 50411, Estonia

^* Corresponding author: Zane.Abelniece@rtu.lv

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.