The Enigma of Methanol Synthesis by Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 -Based Catalysts

The activity and durability of the Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 (CZA) catalyst formulation for methanol synthesis from CO/CO2/H2 feeds far exceed the sum of its individual components. As such, this ternary catalytic system is a prime example of synergy in catalysis, one that has been employed for the large scale commercial production of methanol since its inception in the mid 1960s with precious little alteration to its original formulation. Methanol is a key building block of the chemical industry. It is also an attractive energy storage molecule, which can also be produced from CO2 and H2 alone, making efficient use of sequestered CO2. As such, this somewhat unusual catalyst formulation has an enormous role to play in the…

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  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

  Award: 200021_178943