Thermal reduction and reoxidation of spinel-type Cu1−xZnxAl2O4

The thermochemical reactivity of the spinel-type quaternary metal oxide Cu_1–xZn_xAl₂O₄ has been investigated for different Cu:Zn ratios. In oxygen or inert gas atmospheres no considerable reduction is observed. In molecular hydrogen metal selective reduction of the Cu is found at relatively high temperature. The solid reduction product is made up of sintered, poorly dispersed metallic copper on a Zn-Al-O metal oxide support, a potential catalyst for the methanol synthesis. Owing to the measured high reduction temperature leading to the mentioned sintering of the metallic copper, the activity of this system cannot be high.Financial support by the Swiss National Science Foundation under project Nr. 2027933.89 is gratefully acknowledged.