Drastic Events and Gradual Change Define the Structure of an Active Copper-Zinc-Alumina Catalyst for Methanol Synthesis.

ABSTRACT: The copper-zinc-alumina (CZA) catalyst is one of the most important catalysts. Nevertheless, understanding of the complex CZA structure is still limited and hampers further optimization. Critical to the production of a highly active and stable catalyst are optimal start-up procedures in hydrogen. Here, by employing operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, we follow how the industrial CZA precursor evolves into the working catalyst. Two major events in the activation drastically alter the copper- and zinc-containing components in the CZA catalyst and define the final working catalyst structure: the reduction of the starting copper(II) oxide, and the ripening and re-oxidation of zinc oxide upon the switch to catalytic conditions. These drastic events are also accompanied

SUBMITTER: Beck A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9314061 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature