The invention provides a process for producing methanol, which process comprises contacting H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 with a solid catalyst, at a temperature of from 200° C. to 300° C. and at a reactant pressure of from 150 bar to 500 bar, which reactant pressure is the sum of the partial pressures of the H.sub.2 and the CO.sub.2, wherein: the molar ratio of the H.sub.2 to the CO.sub.2 is x:1.0, wherein x is from 2.5 to 3.5; and the catalyst comprises: (i) a copper component which is Cu, CuO or Cu.sub.2O, or a mixture of two or three thereof, and (ii) ZnO, wherein the catalyst has a specific copper surface area of at least 10 m.sup.2/g-catalyst.

The invention provides a process for producing methanol, which process comprises contacting H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 with a solid catalyst, at a temperature of from 200° C. to 300° C. and at a reactant pressure of from 150 bar to 500 bar, which reactant pressure is the sum of the partial pressures of the H.sub.2 and the CO.sub.2, wherein: the molar ratio of the H.sub.2 to the CO.sub.2 is x:1.0, wherein x is from 2.5 to 3.5; and the catalyst comprises: (i) a copper component which is Cu, CuO or Cu.sub.2O, or a mixture of two or three thereof, and (ii) ZnO, wherein the catalyst has a specific copper surface area of at least 10 m.sup.2/g-catalyst.

A method of producing a acid/metal bifunctional catalyst may include: mixing an acid catalyst, a metal catalyst, and a fluid to produce a slurry, wherein the acid catalyst is present at 50 wt % or less relative to a total catalyst weight in the slurry; heating the slurry; producing a powder from the slurry; and calcining the powder to produce the acid/metal bifunctional catalyst. Such acid/metal bifunctional catalyst would be useful in the direct conversion of syngas to dimethyl ether as well as other reactions.

A method of producing a acid/metal bifunctional catalyst may include: mixing an acid catalyst, a metal catalyst, and a fluid to produce a slurry, wherein the acid catalyst is present at 50 wt % or less relative to a total catalyst weight in the slurry; heating the slurry; producing a powder from the slurry; and calcining the powder to produce the acid/metal bifunctional catalyst. Such acid/metal bifunctional catalyst would be useful in the direct conversion of syngas to dimethyl ether as well as other reactions.

A method of producing a acid/metal bifunctional catalyst may include: mixing an acid catalyst, a metal catalyst, and a fluid to produce a slurry, wherein the acid catalyst is present at 50 wt % or less relative to a total catalyst weight in the slurry; heating the slurry; producing a powder from the slurry; and calcining the powder to produce the acid/metal bifunctional catalyst. Such acid/metal bifunctional catalyst would be useful in the direct conversion of syngas to dimethyl ether as well as other reactions.

The present disclosure provides an integrated process and a Cu/Zn-based catalyst system for synthesizing methanol from CO.sub.2 and generating electricity from hydrocarbon feedstock. The process includes steps of gasifying hydrocarbon feedstock into syngas by using oxygen and using the produced syngas as a fuel in a power generation unit, reusing a first part of an exhaust stream of the power generation unit as a reactant in the gasification unit. Using a second part of the said exhaust stream as a reactant for methanol synthesis in a methanol reactor, wherein, the second part is treated to separate CO.sub.2 and water, and CO.sub.2 is used as the reactant for methanol synthesis. Operating an electrolyzer during non-peak hours to produce hydrogen, wherein, a required stoichiometric ratio of the produced hydrogen is transferred into the methanol reactor for methanol synthesis, wherein, a Cu/Zn-based catalyst system is used for methanol synthesis through a direct hydrogenation reaction of CO.sub.2.

The present disclosure provides an integrated process and a Cu/Zn-based catalyst system for synthesizing methanol from CO.sub.2 and generating electricity from hydrocarbon feedstock. The process includes steps of gasifying hydrocarbon feedstock into syngas by using oxygen and using the produced syngas as a fuel in a power generation unit, reusing a first part of an exhaust stream of the power generation unit as a reactant in the gasification unit. Using a second part of the said exhaust stream as a reactant for methanol synthesis in a methanol reactor, wherein, the second part is treated to separate CO.sub.2 and water, and CO.sub.2 is used as the reactant for methanol synthesis. Operating an electrolyzer during non-peak hours to produce hydrogen, wherein, a required stoichiometric ratio of the produced hydrogen is transferred into the methanol reactor for methanol synthesis, wherein, a Cu/Zn-based catalyst system is used for methanol synthesis through a direct hydrogenation reaction of CO.sub.2.

The present disclosure provides a preparation method of a doped ZnO catalyst. The preparation method includes the following steps: mixing a precipitant and a first solvent to form a first solution having 1 mol/L to 5 mol/L of the precipitant by concentration; mixing one of a Cu salt or a Ga salt, a Zn salt, and a second solvent to form a second solution having Cu and Zn at a molar ratio of less than 0.05:1 and Ga and Zn at a molar ratio of less than 0.1:1; subjecting the first solution and the second solution to precipitation or hydrolysis at 50° C. to 90° C. to obtain a precipitate, and washing and drying the precipitate to obtain a precursor sample; and conducting calcination on the precursor sample at 300° C. to 500° C. for 3 h to 5 h to obtain a Cu-doped ZnO catalyst or a Ga-doped ZnO catalyst.

The present disclosure provides a preparation method of a doped ZnO catalyst. The preparation method includes the following steps: mixing a precipitant and a first solvent to form a first solution having 1 mol/L to 5 mol/L of the precipitant by concentration; mixing one of a Cu salt or a Ga salt, a Zn salt, and a second solvent to form a second solution having Cu and Zn at a molar ratio of less than 0.05:1 and Ga and Zn at a molar ratio of less than 0.1:1; subjecting the first solution and the second solution to precipitation or hydrolysis at 50° C. to 90° C. to obtain a precipitate, and washing and drying the precipitate to obtain a precursor sample; and conducting calcination on the precursor sample at 300° C. to 500° C. for 3 h to 5 h to obtain a Cu-doped ZnO catalyst or a Ga-doped ZnO catalyst.

A method of producing a syngas composition includes hydrolyzing a metal halide salt to form a hydrohalic acid and a hydroxide salt of the metal in the metal halide salt. The metal includes an alkaline earth metal or an alkali metal. The method includes reacting the hydrohalic acid with a metal carbonate salt, wherein the metal carbonate salt is a carbonate salt of the alkaline earth metal or alkali metal, to form CO.sub.2 and the metal halide salt. At least some of the metal halide salt formed from the reacting of the hydrohalic acid with the metal carbonate salt is recycled as at least some of the metal halide salt in the hydrolyzing of the metal halide salt to form the hydrohalic acid and the hydroxide salt. The method also includes electrolytically converting the CO.sub.2 and the water into the syngas composition including carbon monoxide and hydrogen.