Study of catalytic materials active in the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol

In recent years, In2O3 based catalysts showed promising results in the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol, due to its exceptional selectivity towards methanol synthesis. In this work, mixed oxides based on metal “X” and In2O3 were investigated, with the aim to select the optimal X and In2O3 loading, to improve the STY (Space Time Yield) of the reaction. The catalysts were synthesized with the coprecipitation method, and catalytic activity tests were conducted in a lab scale reactor. The data obtained from the tests were compared based on the composition of the mixed oxides and the synthesis conditions. It was possible to observe the properties of the catalysts, and how the selectivity, conversion, and STY values vary with reaction conditions. A combination of X and In loadings and catalyst preparation method provided promising STY values and it gave important considerations for the developing in the future works of the optimal X and In composition.