Rhenium-contained catalysts based on superacid ZrO2 supports for CO2 utilization

Abstract

• The role of the nature of superacid supports on textural properties and activity of Re-contained catalysts in CO2 hydrogenation is revealed. • Rhenium catalysts turned out to be highly active in CO2 hydrogenation at mild conditions. • The nickel promotion of Re-contained catalysts allows to tune reaction pathway and dramatically change products distribution. Rhenium catalysts are quite rarely used as systems for hydrogenation reaction despite the great variety of Re oxidation states and high potential. Re-containing catalysts were synthesized based on two types of superacid oxide supports: sulfated (SZ) and tungsten-doped zirconium oxide (WZ). The investigation of the obtained samples showed the significant difference in their textural and chemical properties depending on the carrier type. The study of prepared catalysts in the CO 2 hydrogenation reaction revealed the high selectivity toward CO (more than 94%) over a Re 2 O 7 /SZ catalyst while a large amount of methane was formed over Re-contained catalysts based on the WZ support.