CATALYTIC REDUCTION OF CARBON-DIOXIDE BY LOWER ALKANE

In order to explore the possibility of catalytic reduction of CO2 by lower alkane leading to the formation of more valuable products from lower alkane, the following reaction was examined by using a pulse reaction technique: CO2 + C3H8 --> CO + C3H6 + H2O. As a result of catalyst screening, Cr2O3, ZnO2 and GaO3 were selected as candidates of catalyst. On Cr2O3 and ZnO, the decomposition of C3H8 was significant and the formation of C3H6 from C3H8 was retarded by CO2. On Ga2O3, CO and C3H6 were produced without the formation of by-products, demonstrating the possibility of catalytic reduction of CO2 through the above-mentioned reaction.