Mechanistic and Compositional Aspects of Industrial Catalysts for Selective CO2 Hydrogenation Processes

The characteristics of industrial catalysts for conventional water-gas shifts, methanol syntheses, methanation, and Fischer-Tropsch syntheses starting from syngases are reviewed and discussed. The information about catalysts under industrial development for the hydrogenation of captured CO2 is also reported and considered. In particular, the development of catalysts for reverse water-gas shifts, CO2 to methanol, CO2-methanation, and CO2-Fischer-Tropsch is analyzed. The difference between conventional catalysts and those needed for pure CO2 conversion is discussed. The surface chemistry of metals, oxides, and carbides involved in this field, in relation to the adsorption of hydrogen, CO, and CO2, is also briefly reviewed and critically discussed. The mechanistic aspects of the involved reactions and details on catalysts’ composition and structure are critically considered and analyzed.