Influence of reaction medium on CO2 photocatalytic reduction yields over

Abstract

The reduction of CO2 by photocatalysts is one of the most promising methods since CO2 can be reduced to useful compounds by irradiating it with UV light at room temperature and ambient pressure. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of a reaction media on CO2 photocatalytic reduction yields over ZnS nanoparticles deposited on montmorillonite (ZnS-MMT). Four different reaction media, such as NaOH, NaOH+Na2SO3 (1:1), NH4OH, NH4OH+Na2SO3 (1:1), were tested. The pure sodium hydroxide was better than ammonium hydroxide for the yields of the both gas phase (CH4 and CO) and liquid phase (CH3OH). The addition of Na2SO3 improved methanol yields due to the oxidation prevention of incipient methanol to carbon dioxide. The gas phase yields were decreased by the Na2SO3 addition. The best tested reaction medium for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 was the solution of sodium hydroxide.