CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF NEW CU BASED CATALYSTS CONTAINING ZR AND OR V FOR METHANOL SYNTHESIS FROM A CARBON-DIOXIDE AND HYDROGEN MIXTURE

Pure unsupported copper is a poor catalyst for CH3OH synthesis from CO2 + H-2 when it is compared to Cu coprecipitated with Zr or Zr + V in which case its selectivity and yield in methanol are strongly enhanced. The two Zr and V components added to pure Cu are shown to be textural promoters towards zerovalent Cu which participate to the building of the active sites. Methanol formation on these catalysts is a structure insensitive reaction with respect to the metallic Cu dosed by N2O surface decomposition.