Conversion of CO2 to methanol over bifunctional basic-metallic catalysts

Abstract

Amine functionalized silica is an excellent sorbent for CO2 and when combined with Pd it has been demonstrated to selectively hydrogenate chemisorbed CO2 to methanol at a pressure of 1 bar H2. Up to 25% of the irreversibly captured CO2 could be converted by applying a dynamic switch between adsorption at 70 °C and conversion to methanol at 140 °C. The surface species, observed during sorption and reaction by IR spectroscopy, allowed to conclude that the reaction proceeds via formation of carbamates and their gradual reduction to methanol on sites located at the interface between the amine and Pd particles.

Keywords

• Amine
• Bifunctional
• CO2 capture and utilization
• Methanol
• Selective reduction