The effect of palladium incorporation on the performance of Cu–ZnO(Al2O3) during the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide has been assessed. Temperature-programmed reduction profiles and X-ray photoelectron spectra of copper revealed that Pd enhances copper oxide reduction. Carbon dioxide conversion and methanol yield were found to increase on Pd-loaded catalysts. The importance of the palladium incorporated to the base Cu–ZnO(Al2O3) catalyst in determining the catalytic activity is discussed in terms of the relative ease with which hydrogen is dissociated on the Pd particles and then spilt over the Cu–ZnO phase of the base catalyst.

Financial support from CICYT, Spain, under project MAT95-0894 is acknowledged. I. Melián-Cabrera is grateful to the Ministerio de Educación y Cultura for the award of a studentship.