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Synergy of Components in CuZnO and CuZnO/Al2O3 on Methanol Synthesis: Analysis at the Site Level by SSITKA

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Abstract

In the present study, the effects of the individual components and an Al2O3 support on CuZnO for methanol (MeOH) synthesis were investigated at the site level for the first time using steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis and reaction at 250 °C and 1.8 atm. The presence of ZnO was found to decrease the hydrocarbon (CH4 primarily) formation ability of Cu. By comparing the surface reaction parameters, it could be shown that Cu and ZnO catalysts (supported on Al2O3) exhibit lower MeOH formation rates compared to their combination in either CuZnO or CuZnO/Al2O3 due, especially, to lower intrinsic “site” activities. The synergy between Cu and ZnO was most obvious in the increase in MeOH TOFITK (a measure of site activity for MeOH formation), more than double that for Cu without ZnO. Al2O3 did not seem to impact MeOH synthesis in any way other than to increase dispersion of the CuZnO. However, it did furnish acid sites for the conversion of some MeOH to DME.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge financial support from the US Department of Energy (Award No. DE-PS26-06NT43024).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Yu-Tung Tsai, Xunhua Mo & James G. Goodwin Jr.

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  1. Yu-Tung Tsai
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  2. Xunhua Mo
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  3. James G. Goodwin Jr.
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Correspondence to James G. Goodwin Jr..

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Special Issue in Honor of Laszlo Guczi’s 80th Birthday.

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Tsai, YT., Mo, X. & Goodwin, J.G. Synergy of Components in CuZnO and CuZnO/Al2O3 on Methanol Synthesis: Analysis at the Site Level by SSITKA. Top Catal 55, 757–770 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-012-9863-6

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