Advances in catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO2

Methanol plays a key role in a CO2 economy scenario. This contribution analyzes recent developments in this area from the catalyst and process perspectives, in terms of both current industrial production of methanol from fossil fuels via syngas, and changes need to progressively go to CO2-rich feedstock and finally to use pure CO2 and renewable H2 as raw materials. Aspects discussed regard the methanol industrial production, the catalysts for methanol synthesis (especially regarding recent advances), the reaction mechanism, and role of CO2, and the catalyst needs for methanol synthesis directly from CO2.