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Effect of Microwave Drying of Alumina Support on Properties of Cu/Al2O3 Catalyst for Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether via CO2 Hydrogenation

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Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation is an alternative catalytic reaction for the conversion of CO2 into methanol and dimethyl ether (DME). Alumina is widely used as a catalyst in CO2 hydrogenation. Drying of the porous support is an effective process, which can directly affect the structural characteristics and performance of the catalyst. This work investigated the effect of microwave drying on the properties of an alumina support and a Cu/Al2O3 catalyst. Microwave drying of the support at 600 and 1000 W shortened the drying time by 86 and 92%, respectively, compared to hot air drying at 100 °C. Microwave drying could enhance the distribution of the alumina particles, resulting in a larger surface area and pore volume of the support. In contrast, hot air drying caused alumina particle aggregation that led to a small surface area and pore volume of the support. The Cu/Al2O3 catalyst, for which the support was microwave-dried at 1000 W (Cu/Al2O3-MW1000), had the greatest copper distribution, BET surface area (229.5 m2/g), pore volume (0.39 m3/g) and strong acidic site (1.25 mmol NH3/g Cu). These characteristics of catalyst led to the presenting of the highest CO2 conversion, DME selectivity, and DME space time yield during CO2 hydrogenation. A catalyst utilizing the support prepared by microwave drying at 1000 W exhibited the highest average CO2 conversion, DME selectivity and space time yield of DME of 30.67%, 9.99% and 156.5 gDME/kgcat h, respectively at a reaction temperature of 260 °C for 4 h. In addition, the stability of Cu/Al2O3-MW1000 catalyst was excellent over a 24 h reaction period.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere appreciation to the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation [Grant Number B05F630097] and the Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand for their financial support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Nattawut Nintao, Praeploy Chadawong, Waleeporn Donphai, Anusorn Seubsai & Chalida Niamnuy

  2. Research Network NANOTEC-Kasetsart On NanoCatalysts and NanoMaterials for Sustainable Energy and Environment: RNN-CMSEE and Center for Advanced Studies in Nanotechnology for Chemical, Food and Agricultural Industrials, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Nattawut Nintao, Winyoo Sangthong, Waleeporn Donphai, Anusorn Seubsai & Chalida Niamnuy

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  1. Nattawut Nintao
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  2. Praeploy Chadawong
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  4. Waleeporn Donphai
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Contributions

NN: investigation, writing-original draft preparation, writing-reviewing and editing. PC: investigation, writing-reviewing and editing. WS: visualization, writing-reviewing and editing. WD: visualization, writing-reviewing and editing. AS: visualization, writing-reviewing and editing. CN: conceptualization, methodology, writing-original draft preparation, writing-reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to Chalida Niamnuy.

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Nintao, N., Chadawong, P., Sangthong, W. et al. Effect of Microwave Drying of Alumina Support on Properties of Cu/Al2O3 Catalyst for Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether via CO2 Hydrogenation. Top Catal 66, 1478–1491 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-023-01844-1

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