Influence of impurities in H2 from different sources on the deactivation of methanol synthesis catalysts

By using H2 from solar-based sources or CO/CO2/H2 mixtures received from solar-powered installations, methanol synthesis is an important option for building up a fossil-free chemical feedstock or for further transformation to synthetic fuels.[1] The deactivation of methanol synthesis catalysts depends on several factors. The most important detrimental effect is sintering of the active metal nanoparticles (mostly Cu on ZnO) by heat or an interaction with H2O. Impurities such as sulfur or chlorine compounds are also well-known to degrade the catalyst.[2] To optimize surface area and minimize wetting, promoters like alumina or zirconia are used.[3] As part of the InnoPool-Project “Solar Hydrogen - pure & compressed,” we use hydrogen from different solar-based sources for methanol synthesis and compare the impact of the impurities on the catalyst deactivation with the influence of “conventional” hydrogen.
For this, we conduct parallel catalyst material testing with long time-on-stream to initiate catalyst deactivation. Furthermore, we withdraw samples of the used CuO/ZnO/ZrO2-based catalysts under inert atmosphere and investigate them considering sintering and other adverse effects.
... mehr
In this paper we describe the experimental set-up and initial results of the investigations carried out.
[1] a) N. Dahmen, J. Sauer, Processes 2021, 9, 684; b) S. Wiebe, "reFuels – Kraftstoffe neu denken", zu finden unter https://publikationen.bibliothek.kit.edu/1000129322, 2021.
[2] a) H. H. Kung, Catal. Today 1992, 11, 443; b) J. T. Sun, I. S. Metcalfe, M. Sahibzada, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1999, 38, 3868; c) M. V. Twigg, Top. Catal. 2003, 22, 191.
[3] a) F. Arena, G. Mezzatesta, G. Zafarana, G. Trunfio, F. Frusteri, L. Spadaro, J. Catal. 2013, 300, 141; b) Z. Chen, X. Zhao, S. Wei, D. Wang, X. Zhang, New J. Chem. 2021, 45, 9967.