Tandem catalytic synthesis of benzene from CO2 and H2

Abstract

Benzene as an important raw material for production of industrial chemicals is generally synthesized from petroleum and coal tar. Here, we realized the synthesis of benzene from greenhouse CO₂ and H₂ with two connected reactors by a tandem catalysis reaction comprising CO₂ methanation and CH₄ aromatization. The Ni/SiO₂ catalyst loaded in the first reactor was used to convert CO₂ to CH₄, and the formed CH₄ was sequentially converted to benzene on the Mo/HZSM-5 catalyst in the second reactor. The benzene formation rate reaches 0.68 μmol g⁻¹ min⁻¹ accompanied by a high CO₂ conversion of 92%. This concept will provide a new pathway for the direct synthesis of benzene and CO₂ utilization.