Experimental and kinetic modelling studies for the design of fixed bed methanol reactor over CuZA catalyst

Direct conversion of CO 2 via hydrogenation to value-added chemicals is a vital approach for utilising CO 2 emitted into the atmosphere. In this paper, a critical analysis of reaction kinetic modelling studies is explored in a fixed bed reactor to improve methanol yield for different H 2 to CO 2 ratios by simulating a lab-scale reactor for adiabatic and isothermal conditions. The feed inlet temperature and pressure variations are applied to study the effect of both configurations on methanol production. The results show that the isothermal configuration yields 2.76% more methanol yield compared to the adiabatic reactor. The effect of H 2 to CO 2 molar ratios of 3, 6 and 9 on the performance of the catalyst and the influence of CO and CO 2 hydrogenation is investigated with model simulations. The overall methanol yield is increased from 19.03% to 36.41% with increase in H 2 to CO 2 molar ratio from 3 to 9. Experiments are performed using commercial copper-based catalyst for different temperatures of 210, 230 and 250 degrees C at a pressure of 40 bar for H 2 /CO 2 of 3 and GHSV of 720 h -1 as well as at optimal temperature of 250 degrees C and 50 bar with varying H 2 /CO 2 of 3, 6, 9 for 3 g and 6 g catalyst. The maximum methanol yield of 2.53% and space time yield of 13.59 mg/g cat .h is obtained at H 2 /CO 2 ratio of 9.