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

A new route of methanol synthesis, at 443 K and under pressurized conditions, from carbon dioxide and hydrogen through formic ester was investigated, by using Cu-based catalysts. This one-pot reaction consisted of three steps: formic acid synthesis from CO2 and H2, esterification of formic acid by ethanol to ethyl formate, and hydrogenolysis of ethyl formate to methanol and ethanol.