The effect of palladium incorporation on the performance of Cu-ZnO(Al2
O3) during the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide has been assessed. Temp
erature-programmed reduction profiles and X-ray photoelectron spectra
of copper revealed that Pd enhances copper oxide reduction. Carbon dio
xide conversion and methanol yield were found to increase on Pd-loaded
catalysts. The importance of the palladium incorporated to the base C
u-ZnO(Al2O3) catalyst in determining the catalytic activity is discuss
ed in terms of the relative ease with which hydrogen is dissociated on
the Pd particles and then spilt over the Cu-ZnO phase of the base cat
alyst. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.