Improved CO2 conversion to methanol promoted by ionic liquid additives using a Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 heterogeneous catalyst.

An efficient amine-based CO2 hydrogenation to methanol system using a Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 heterogeous catalyst was promoted by ionic liquid additives. Relative to a system without an ionic liquid, methanol yields greatly improved when an imidazolium-based ionic liquid [BMIm][OAc] was added. Among the amines tested, triethanolamine yielded the highest conversions.