Abstract: A novel gel-network-coprecipitation process has been proposed to prepare ultrafine Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO₂ hydrogenation.Compared to the catalysts prepared via theconventional coprecipitation method, the new catalysts prepared via gel-network-coprecipitation methodexhibit much higher BETsurface area and metallic copper specific surface area, much smaller crystallitesize and higher catalytic activity and selectivity in CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol.The effect of the gelconcentration of gelatin on the structure, morphology and the catalytic properties of the Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃catalysts for methanol synthesis from hydrogenation of carbon dioxide were also investigated.

Key words: Gel-network-coprecipitation method, Methanol synthesis, Gelatin polymer, CO₂ hydrogena-tion