557
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_18
Perspectives in Carbon Oxides Conversion
to Methanol/Dimethyl Ether: Distinctive
Contribution of Heterogeneous
and Photocatalysis
Komal Tripathi, Rajan Singh
*
, Shreya Singh
*
, Sonal Asthana
*
, and K. K. Pant
Abstract This book chapter reveals the recent advancements in the synthesis of
methanol/dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis via carbon oxides hydrogenation using
heterogeneous as well as photocatalysis approach. This gas-phase process could be
well thought out as a promising alternative for carbon oxides recycling towards a
fuel such as DME/methanol. The conversion of these oxides (CO/CO 2 ) into valueadded chemicals has been considered as one of the top most research priorities all
over the world to mitigate the level of these gases in the atmosphere. In this view,
the production of methanol/DME from catalytic hydrogenation (heterogeneous as
well as photocatalysis) of carbon oxides appears as a technology able to countenance also the ever-escalating demand for alternative, environmentally benign fuels
and energy carriers.
Fundamental considerations upon thermodynamic aspects controlling methanol/
DME production from CO/CO 2 are presented in the chapter along with an assessment of the most pioneering catalytic systems developed in this field. The effect of
the catalytic properties, reaction mechanism, nature of the active sites, and the types
of the reactors used for this particular process has been discussed in details. Novel
catalytic approaches adopted for the hydrogenation of especially CO 2 has been fore
fronted in the separate section of this chapter. Special emphasis has also been given
to the photocatalytic approach adopted for the conversion of the carbon oxides into
methanol/DME. All these aspects are discussed in details, summarizing modern
achievements in the related research field.
Keywords Carbon oxide conversion · Heterogeneous · Photocatalysis · Methanol
· Dimethyl ether
*
Rajan Singh, Shreya Singh and Sonal Asthana contributed equally.
K. Tripathi · R. Singh · S. Singh · S. Asthana · K. K. Pant (*)
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi,
Delhi, India
e-mail: kkpant@chemical.iitd.ac.in
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_18
Perspectives in Carbon Oxides Conversion
to Methanol/Dimethyl Ether: Distinctive
Contribution of Heterogeneous
and Photocatalysis
Komal Tripathi, Rajan Singh
*
, Shreya Singh
*
, Sonal Asthana
*
, and K. K. Pant
Abstract This book chapter reveals the recent advancements in the synthesis of
methanol/dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis via carbon oxides hydrogenation using
heterogeneous as well as photocatalysis approach. This gas-phase process could be
well thought out as a promising alternative for carbon oxides recycling towards a
fuel such as DME/methanol. The conversion of these oxides (CO/CO 2 ) into valueadded chemicals has been considered as one of the top most research priorities all
over the world to mitigate the level of these gases in the atmosphere. In this view,
the production of methanol/DME from catalytic hydrogenation (heterogeneous as
well as photocatalysis) of carbon oxides appears as a technology able to countenance also the ever-escalating demand for alternative, environmentally benign fuels
and energy carriers.
Fundamental considerations upon thermodynamic aspects controlling methanol/
DME production from CO/CO 2 are presented in the chapter along with an assessment of the most pioneering catalytic systems developed in this field. The effect of
the catalytic properties, reaction mechanism, nature of the active sites, and the types
of the reactors used for this particular process has been discussed in details. Novel
catalytic approaches adopted for the hydrogenation of especially CO 2 has been fore
fronted in the separate section of this chapter. Special emphasis has also been given
to the photocatalytic approach adopted for the conversion of the carbon oxides into
methanol/DME. All these aspects are discussed in details, summarizing modern
achievements in the related research field.
Keywords Carbon oxide conversion · Heterogeneous · Photocatalysis · Methanol
· Dimethyl ether
*
Rajan Singh, Shreya Singh and Sonal Asthana contributed equally.
K. Tripathi · R. Singh · S. Singh · S. Asthana · K. K. Pant (*)
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi,
Delhi, India
e-mail: kkpant@chemical.iitd.ac.in