Synthesis of DME from CO2/H2 gas mixture

The activity and durability of two hybrid bifunctional dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis catalysts: 6CuO–3ZnO–Al2O3/γ-Al2O3 and 6CuO–3ZnO–1Al2O3/HZSM-5, have been evaluated for the conversion of CO2/H2 to DME at 260 °C, 5 MPa, and gas per hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 3000 mL gcat−1 h−1 in fixed-bed and slurry reactors. The catalyst 6CuO–3ZnO–Al2O3/γ-Al2O3 mostly promoted reverse-water-gas-shift (RWGS) reaction with very low selectivity to DME, and a low conversion of CO2. The other catalyst, 6CuO–3ZnO–1Al2O3/HZSM-5, showed much higher conversion of CO2 with higher selectivity to DME in both, fixed-bed and slurry reactors.