Modified zirconium oxide catalysts for effective conversion of carbon dioxide into useful liquid compounds

Energy supply is the key task of the 21th century. Development of new resource-efficient processes is necessary to provide energy in the future. In this context a consortium of academic partners from Dresden University of Technology, Freiberg University of Technology and Fraunhofer-Institute IKTS Dresden in the frame of the DELTA-project was formed. One of the project aims is to develop novel heterogeneous catalysts for production of liquid fuels derived from carbon dioxide (GtL = Gas to Liquid). Nowadays there are two main GtL technologies: production of oxygenate liquid compounds (methanol, dimethyl ether or methyl formate), and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for production of high quality middle distillates (i.e. diesel fuel), base-oil, or waxes. Over the last decades due to technical, social and economic scenario, the GtL technology for production of synthetic fuels via conversion of carbon dioxide from various feedstocks has been preferred. The main objectives of the project can be briefly summarized as follows: Different series of novel catalyst systems are to be prepared. The resulting catalyst samples should be physicochemically analysed by a broad range of characterization methods (X-ray diffraction, DTA analysis coupled with IR, N₂ physisorption, DRIFTS or FTIR, temperature-programmed ammonia desorption (TPAD)) to identify the nature of active sites and to characterize the thermal stability, the surface and pore size as well as the kind of interaction of carbon dioxide with active sites. Finally, an evaluation of the catalyst samples is to be performed to identify the reaction parameters for optimal performance. The expected findings of this proposed research result in an improved catalyst system for the desired carbon dioxide conversion.