Low-temperature methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide and hydrogen via formic ester

A new route of methanol synthesis, at 443 K and under pressurized condition s, from carbon dioxide and hydrogen through formic ester was investigated, by using Cu-based catalysts. This one-pot reaction consisted of three steps : 1. formic acid synthesis from CO2 and H-2, 2. esterification of formic acid by ethanol to ethyl formate, and 3. hydrogenolysis of ethyl formate to methanol and ethanol. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.