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Title: Reactivity and in situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Rb-promoted Mo2C/MgO Catalysts for Higher Alcohol Synthesis

Journal Article · · Journal of Catalysis

The influences of MgO support and Rb{sub 2}CO{sub 3} promoter on the activity and selectivity of Mo{sub 2}C-based catalysts for higher alcohol synthesis from syngas were explored. The reaction was performed in a fixed-bed reactor system operating at 573 K, 30 bar, gas flow rate of 24,000 cm{sup 3} g{sub Mo}{sup -1} h{sup -1}, and H{sub 2}:CO ratio of 1:1. When promoted by Rb{sub 2}CO{sub 3}, the selectivity of alcohols over 5 wt.% Mo{sub 2}C/MgO can reach 61 C% on a CO{sub 2}-free basis, with C1-C4 hydrocarbons being the main side products. Production of higher alcohols was enhanced at high promoter loading and low conversion. Characterization by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) indicated that passivated Mo{sub 2}C/MgO was more oxidized than bulk Mo{sub 2}C, but exposure to reaction conditions for 4 h partially reduced the passivated sample. Electron microscopy and XAS confirmed that Mo{sub 2}C was highly dispersed on MgO. The Rb K edge structure suggested that the Rb{sub 2}CO{sub 3} promoter was structurally modified in the reaction.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
1041865
Report Number(s):
BNL-97543-2012-JA; JCTLA5; TRN: US201212%%276
Journal Information:
Journal of Catalysis, Vol. 282, Issue 1; ISSN 0021-9517
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English