Preparation of CuO-ZnO-ZrO 2 by citric acid combustion method and its catalytic property for methanol synthesis from CO 2 hydrogenation

Abstract

CuO-ZnO-ZrO 2 (CZZ) catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO 2 hydrogenation were prepared by a citric acid combustion method. The combustion reactions were analyzed in terms of propellant chemistry and the combustion behavior was recorded by thermo-gravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The as-prepared CZZ powders were investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), N 2 adsorption, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and reactive N 2O adsorption techniques and the catalytic activities were evaluated for methanol synthesis from CO 2 hydrogenation. The results show that the influence of citric acid quantity on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of CZZ is subtle, and the reason is related to the characteristics of the combustion reaction. Furthermore, the relationship between the quantity of fuel (citric acid, urea, and glycine) and the properties of the catalysts was determined. The citric acid combustion method exhibits better controllability and it is a simple, fast, and valuable route for the preparation of the CZZ catalyst for methanol synthesis from CO 2 hydrogenation. © Editorial office of Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica.