Alkali or alkaline earth metal promoted catalyst and a process for methanol synthesis using alkali or alkaline earth metals as promoters

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:869732

Tierney, John W ^[1]; Wender, Irving ^[1]; Palekar, Vishwesh M ^[1]

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1. Pittsburgh, PA

The present invention relates to a novel route for the synthesis of methanol, and more specifically to the production of methanol by contacting synthesis gas under relatively mild conditions in a slurry phase with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising reduced copper chromite impregnated with an alkali or alkaline earth metal. There is thus no need to add a separate alkali or alkaline earth compound. The present invention allows the synthesis of methanol to occur in the temperature range of approximately 100.degree.-160.degree. C. and the pressure range of 40-65 atm. The process produces methanol with up to 90% syngas conversion per pass and up to 95% methanol selectivity. The only major by-product is a small amount of easily separated methyl formate. Very small amounts of water, carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether are also produced. The present catalyst combination also is capable of tolerating fluctuations in the H.sub.2 /CO ratio without major deleterious effect on the reaction rate. Furthermore, carbon dioxide and water are also tolerated without substantial catalyst deactivation.

• Research Organization: University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG22-89PC89786
• Assignee: University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5385949
• OSTI ID: 869732
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

alkali
alkaline
earth
metal
promoted
catalyst
process
methanol
synthesis
metals
promoters
relates
novel
route
specifically
production
contacting
gas
relatively
mild
conditions
slurry
phase
heterogeneous
comprising
reduced
copper
chromite
impregnated
add
separate
compound
allows
occur
temperature
range
approximately
100
degree
-160
pressure
40-65
atm
produces
90
syngas
conversion
pass
95
selectivity
major
by-product
amount
easily
separated
methyl
formate
amounts
water
carbon
dioxide
dimethyl
produced
combination
capable
tolerating
fluctuations
ratio
deleterious
effect
reaction
rate
furthermore
tolerated
substantial
deactivation
pressure range
methyl formate
gas conversion
heterogeneous catalyst
slurry phase
reduced copper
relatively mild
reaction rate
temperature range
carbon dioxide
synthesis gas
alkaline earth
earth metal
catalyst comprising
earth metals
process produces
mild conditions
catalyst combination
easily separated
methanol synthesis
metal promoted
methanol selectivity
separated methyl
substantial catalyst
produces methanol
major by-product
major deleterious
novel route
earth compound
copper chromite
syngas conversion
tolerating fluctuations
catalyst deactivation
comprising reduced
deleterious effect
contacting synthesis
promoted catalyst
/518/999/