The activity and durability of two hybrid bifunctional dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis catalysts: 6CuO-3ZnO-Al2O3/gamma-Al2O3 and 6CuO-3ZnO-1Al(2)O(3)/HZSM-5, have been evaluated for the conversion of CO2/H-2 to DME at 260 degrees C, 5 MPa, and gas per hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 3000 mLg(cat)(-1) h(-1) in fixed-bed and slurry reactors. The catalyst 6CuO-3ZnO-Al2O3/gamma-Al2O3 mostly promoted reverse-water-gas-shift (RWGS) reaction with very low selectivity to DME, and a low conversion of CO2. The other catalyst, 6CuO-3ZnO-1Al(2)O(3)/HZSM-5, showed much higher conversion of CO2 with higher selectivity to DME in both, fixed-bed and slurry reactors. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.