Abstract: The efficient hydrogenation of CO₂-derived ethylene carbonate (EC) to yield methanol (MeOH) and ethylene glycol (EG) is a key process for indirect conversion of CO₂ to MeOH. However, a high H₂/EC molar ratio during the hydrogenation process (usually as 180–300) is generally required to achieve good catalytic performance, resulting in high cost and energy consumption for H₂ circulation in the promising industrial application. Here, we prepared a series of Ni-modified Cu/SiO₂ catalysts and explored the effects of synthesis methods and Ni contents on catalytic performance under different H₂/EC molar ratios. The Cu/SiO₂ catalyst with 0.2% (mass) Ni loading prepared by co-ammonia evaporation method exhibited above 99% conversion of EC, 91% and 98% selectivity to MeOH and EG respectively at H₂/EC ratio of 60. And no significant deactivation was observed within 140 h at a lower H₂/EC of 40. It is demonstrated that a few of Ni addition could not only promote Cu dispersion and increase surface Cu⁺ species due to the strong interaction between Cu and Ni species, but also form uniformly-dispersed CuNi alloy species and thus enhance the adsorption and dissociation of H₂. But the excess Ni species would aggregate and segregate to cover partial surface of Cu nanoparticles, leading to a significantly drop of catalytic performance in EC hydrogenation. These insights may provide guidance for further design of catalysts for the ester hydrogenation reactions.

Key words: Cu-based catalyst, Ethylene carbonate, Methanol, Hydrogenation, Carbon dioxide

摘要： The efficient hydrogenation of CO₂-derived ethylene carbonate (EC) to yield methanol (MeOH) and ethylene glycol (EG) is a key process for indirect conversion of CO₂ to MeOH. However, a high H₂/EC molar ratio during the hydrogenation process (usually as 180–300) is generally required to achieve good catalytic performance, resulting in high cost and energy consumption for H₂ circulation in the promising industrial application. Here, we prepared a series of Ni-modified Cu/SiO₂ catalysts and explored the effects of synthesis methods and Ni contents on catalytic performance under different H₂/EC molar ratios. The Cu/SiO₂ catalyst with 0.2% (mass) Ni loading prepared by co-ammonia evaporation method exhibited above 99% conversion of EC, 91% and 98% selectivity to MeOH and EG respectively at H₂/EC ratio of 60. And no significant deactivation was observed within 140 h at a lower H₂/EC of 40. It is demonstrated that a few of Ni addition could not only promote Cu dispersion and increase surface Cu⁺ species due to the strong interaction between Cu and Ni species, but also form uniformly-dispersed CuNi alloy species and thus enhance the adsorption and dissociation of H₂. But the excess Ni species would aggregate and segregate to cover partial surface of Cu nanoparticles, leading to a significantly drop of catalytic performance in EC hydrogenation. These insights may provide guidance for further design of catalysts for the ester hydrogenation reactions.

关键词: Cu-based catalyst, Ethylene carbonate, Methanol, Hydrogenation, Carbon dioxide