(Project concluded on November 30, 2020)

Methanol is an important solvent extensively used in the plastics industry and in the organic synthesis of various chemical intermediates, such as formaldehyde, methyl chloride, acetic acid, methylamines, methyl methacrylate, among others. In addition, is used in the transesterification of triglycerides to produce biodiesel. The use of methanol feedstock tends to increase. Overall methanol demand is increasing by significant levels – from a demand of 60 million metric tons in 2013 to over 106 million metric tons in 2023. With rising demand, it is necessary to develop more selective and inexpensive routes for the synthesis of methanol. Carbon dioxide is an alternative raw material for this synthesis, substituting CO. Thus, this project will study the methanol production routes through the hydrogenation of CO2, in order take advantage of the associated gas in oil fields as well as from other fossil fuels sources, such as natural gas fields in Brazil, rich in CO2. The effects of catalyst preparation methods based on copper supported on ceramic materials will be investigated.