Methanol Synthesis from Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen via Formic Ester.

A new route of methanol synthesis, at 473K and 30bar, from carbon dioxide and hydrogen through formic ester was reported, by using active carbon supported palladium catalyst and coexisting weak base. This one-pot reaction consisted of 3 steps: (1) formic acid synthesis from CO2 and H2, (2) esterification of formic acid by ethanol to ethyl formate, (3) hydrogenolysis of ethyl formate to methanol and ethanol, the rate-determining step. Longer reaction time favored methanol synthesis and high CO2 conversion.