Improved methanol synthesis performance of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst by controlling its precursor structure

• Published in: Green energy & environment Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 772 - 781
• Main Authors: Zhang, Fan, Xu, Xiaoying, Qiu, Zhengpu, Feng, Bo, Liu, Yuan, Xing, Aihua, Fan, Maohong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2022
• Subjects: Cu2+ substitution; Fractional precipitation; Hydrotalcite-like compounds; In-situ XRD; Zinc malachite; Hydrotalcite-like compounds; Zinc malachite; Cu2+ substitution; In-situ XRD; Fractional precipitation
• ISSN: 2468-0257; 2468-0257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gee.2020.11.027

Methanol, a versatile chemical, fuel additive and potential H2 carrier, has attracted great attention. Despite of the wide industrialization, improvement of Cu-based methanol-synthesis catalysts is highly anticipated. Accordingly, a series of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 with designed precursor structures were prepared, and its structure–function relationship was investigated to make progress on this area. Results showed the catalyst derived from highly zinc-substituted malachite demonstrated the best catalytic performance in this work. It was found that the well-behaved catalyst possessed relatively high Cu specific surface area and exposed Cu concentration, and the well Cu/ZnO synergy. CuZn alloy was found by In-situ XRD tests, and its effect on the catalyst's thermostability was discussed. Fractional precipitation, which facilitated the Cu2+ substitution by Zn2+ in malachite lattice, could be an efficient preparation method of the Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst. Fractional precipitation promoted zinc substitution in the malachite lattice. Derived from highly zinc-substituted malachite, sample I demonstrated better catalytic activity and thermostability during the methanol synthesis reaction from syngas. [Display omitted]