Light olefins (C

2

-C

4

) are fundamental building blocks for the manufacture of polymers

chemical intermediates

and solvents. In this work

we realized a composite catalyst

comprising Mn

x

Zr

y

oxides and SAPO-34 zeolite

which can convert syngas (CO + H

2

) into light olefins. Mn

x

Zr

y

oxide catalysts with different Mn/Zr molar ratios were facilely prepared using the coprecipitation method prior to physical mixing with SAPO-34 zeolite. The redox properties

surface morphology

electronic state

crystal structure

and chemical elemental composition of the catalysts were examined using H

2

-TPR

SEM

XPS

XRD

and EDS techniques

respectively. Tandem reactions involved activation of CO and subsequent hydrogenation over the metal oxide catalyst

producing methanol and dimethyl ether as the main reaction intermediates

which then migrated onto SAPO-34 zeolite for light olefins synthesis. Effects of temperature

pressure and reactant gas flow rate on CO conversion and light olefins selectivity were investigated in detail. The Mn

1

Zr

2

/SAPO-34 catalyst (Mn/Zr ra

tio of 1:2) attained a CO conversion of 10.8% and light olefins selectivity of 60.7%

at an optimized temperature

pressure and GHSV of 380 ℃

3 MPa and 3000 h

-1

respectively. These findings open avenues to exploit other metal oxides with CO activation capabilities for a more efficient syngas conversion and product selectivity.