Photochemical conversion of CO2 into methyl alcohol using SiC micropowder under UV light

Abstract

In our study, microparticles SiC powder was investigated as a catalyst for CO2 photoreduction into methanol under UV light. The photochemical conversion of methanol was studied as function of time of exposition, the concentration and the grain size of the catalyst. The selectivity of the used catalyst to promote methanol formation was noticed. It was noticed also that the grain size and concentration have a great impact on the photochemical conversion of CO2 to methanol. The best yield of methanol was achieved when a concentration of 0.75 M of SiC powder of 17 μm grain size and an exposure time to UV light of 2 h where assured. Maximum molar concentration of methanol achieved was under UV irradiation of 365 nm. Therefore, the catalytic property of silicon carbide has proved its efficiency in the photochemical conversion of CO2 into alcohol thus far under UV light.