Effect of Pd on Cu-Zn Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of CO2 to Methanol: Stabilization of Cu Metal Against CO2 Oxidation

A palladium–copper–zinc catalyst (PdO:CuO:ZnO=2:28:70), prepared by sequential precipitation of the respective cations, was tested in the hydrogenation of CO₂ at high pressure (conditions: 60 bar, CO₂:H₂=1:3 (molar), W/F=0.0675 kg h/m³, 453-513 K). The methanol yield was improved on using this Pd-containing catalyst at all temperatures with respect to the reference copper–zinc catalyst (CuO:ZnO=30:70). This improvement was not due to an additional effect in which palladium was acting as an independent catalytic site but was caused by a synergetic effect of Pd on the active Cu sites. This effect was explained in terms of hydrogen spillover and an increased stability against CO₂ oxidation of the surface copper. Therefore, the present contribution not only supports previous literature findings concerning the hydrogen spillover mechanism but also resulted in a complementary view regarding the role of palladium in Pd-modified CuO-ZnO-based catalysts.