The Role of Formate Groups in the Mechanism of metanol Síntesis from H2/CO2 over a Pd/Ga2O3 Catalyst

S. E. COLLINS, M. A. BALTANÁS, A. L. BONIVARDI

Toledo, España

Congreso; Second International Congress on Operando Spectroscopy; 2006

Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquimica, CSIC, Madrid, España

Recycling of carbon dioxide, the main man-made greenhouse gas, to give methanol via a catalytic hydrogenation process, has been lately under scrutiny as one of the strategies to decrease the concentration of atmospheric CO2. In this context, supported precious metals, like palladium, have shown interesting properties. Moreover, it has been shown that the support and the (eventual use of a) promoter can essentially modify both the activity and selectivity of Pd in methanol synthesis. The development of an active Pd/Ga2O3 catalyst for methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation, able to compete with the classical Cu/ZnO formulation, was first reported. Our results suggest that methoxy/methanol formation from H2/CO2 takes place as a consequence of the m-HCOO hydrogenation and, also, that b-HCOO behaves more likely as a spectator.