Synthesis, Characterization and Activity Pattern of Carbon Nanofibres Based Cu-ZrO₂ Catalyst in the Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol

Abstract:

Carbon nanofibers based Cu-ZrO₂ catalysts (Cu-ZrO₂/CNF) were synthesized by deposition precipitation method. Carbon nanofibers of herringbone type were used as a catalyst support. Before using as catalyst support, carbon nanofibers were oxidized to (CNF-O) with 10 % (v/v) nitric acid solution. A series of catalyst with various copper loadings of 10, 15 and 20 wt% were synthesized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study revealed that degree of crystallization of catalyst increase with increasing the concentration of copper content in the catalyst. BET studies showed higher surface area for low loading of copper. Temperature-Programmed Reduction (TPR) analyses concluded good interaction of catalyst particles with higher loading of copper. The performance of Cu-ZrO₂/CNF catalysts in hydrogenation of CO₂ reaction was studied in slurry-typed reactor at 443 K, 30 bar and H₂: CO₂ ratio of 3:1. The highest yield of methanol was achieved using the 20 wt% copper loading.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 925)
• Pages: 349-353
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.925.349
• Online since: April 2014
• Authors: Israf Ud Din, Maizatul Shima Shaharun*, Duvvuri Subbarao, A. Naeem
• Keywords: Carbon Nanofibers, Copper Loading, Copper Zirconia Catalyst, Deposition-Precipitation

References

[1] T. B. Reed, R. M. Lerner, Methanol: A Versatile Fuel for Immediate Use: Methanol can be made from gas, coal, or wood. It is stored and used in existing equipment, Science. 182 (1973) 1299-1304.

DOI: 10.1126/science.182.4119.1299

[2] C. Yang, Z. Ma, N. Zhao, W. Wei, T. Hu, Y. Sun, Methanol synthesis from CO2-rich syngas over a ZrO2 doped CuZnO catalyst, Catalysis Today. 115 (2006) 222-227.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2006.02.077

[3] F. Arena, K. Barbera, G. Italiano, G. Bonura, L. Spadaro, F. Frusteri, Synthesis, characterization and activity pattern of Cu–ZnO/ZrO2 catalysts in the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methanol, Journal of Catalysis. 249 (2007) 185-194.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2007.04.003

[4] R. M. HcGhee, Transco Energy Company, Houston, Texas, (1975).

[5] H. C. Foley, Carbogenic molecular sieves: synthesis, properties and applications, Microporous Materials. 4 (1995) 407-433.

DOI: 10.1016/0927-6513(95)00014-z

[6] F. Rodríguez-reinoso, The role of carbon materials in heterogeneous catalysis, Carbon. 36 (1998) 159-175.

DOI: 10.1016/s0008-6223(97)00173-5

[7] M. R. Cuervo, E. Asedegbega-Nieto, E. Díaz, A. Vega, S. Ordóñez, E. Castillejos-López, I. Rodríguez-Ramos, Effect of carbon nanofiber functionalization on the adsorption properties of volatile organic compounds, Journal of Chromatography A. 1188 (2008).

DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2008.02.061

[8] Z. Huang, F. Cui, J. Xue, J. Zuo, J. Chen, C. Xia, Cu/SiO2 catalysts prepared by hom- and heterogeneous deposition–precipitation methods: Texture, structure, and catalytic performance in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1, 2-propanediol, Catalysis Today. 183 (2012).

DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2011.08.038

[9] I. Ritzkopf, S. Vukojević, C. Weidenthaler, J. -D. Grunwaldt, F. Schüth, Decreased CO production in methanol steam reforming over Cu/ZrO2 catalysts prepared by the microemulsion technique, Applied Catalysis A: General. 302 (2006) 215-223.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2006.01.014

[10] S. Esposito, M. Turco, G. Bagnasco, C. Cammarano, P. Pernice, A. Aronne, Highly dispersed sol–gel synthesized Cu–ZrO2 materials as catalysts for oxidative steam reforming of methanol, Applied Catalysis A: General. 372 (2010) 48-57.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2009.10.006

[11] E. Samei, M. Taghizadeh, M. Bahmani, Enhancement of stability and activity of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts by colloidal silica and metal oxides additives for methanol synthesis from a CO2-rich feed, Fuel Processing Technology. 96 (2012) 128-133.

DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2011.12.028

[12] M. Boudart, Catalysis by Supported Metals, Academic Press. (1969) 153-166.

[13] C. Park, R. T. K. Baker, Catalytic Behavior of Graphite Nanofiber Supported Nickel Particles. 2. The Influence of the Nanofiber Structure, The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 102 (1998) 5168-5177.

DOI: 10.1021/jp981210p

[14] A. Karelovic, A. Bargibant, C. Fernández, P. Ruiz, Effect of the structural and morphological properties of Cu/ZnO catalysts prepared by citrate method on their activity toward methanol synthesis from CO2 and H2 under mild reaction conditions, Catalysis Today. 197 (2012).

DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2012.07.029