Development of a catalyst for conversion of syngas-derived materials to isobutylene. Quarterly report number 11, October 1--December 31, 1993

Technical Report · Fri Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:10107327

Barger, P T

The goals of this project are to develop a catalyst and process for the conversion of syngas to isobutanol. The research will identify and optimize key catalyst and process characteristics. In addition, the commercial potential of the new process will be evaluated by an economic analysis. This report covers three phases of catalyst screening to identify a new catalyst for the production of isoalcohols from syngas or syngas-derived feeds. These phases involve a shift in the project strategy from the direct conversion of CO/H{sub 2} to isoalcohols to a focus on catalysts for the conversion of methanol and, eventually, methanol/ethanol mixtures to higher branched alcohols. The testing of methanol synthesis based catalysts for the conversion of syngas to higher alcohols has been completed this quarter. The three additional catalysts that have been tested (cs modified Cu/Zn/Al oxide, Zn/Cr oxide and Pd/K on Zr/Zn/Mn oxide) have not afforded better selectivity or productivity to isoalcohols than previously tested materials. Considering the low activity that is generally observed for higher alcohols synthesis from syngas suggests that a two stage process combining conventional methanol synthesis with a new process to convert methanol to higher alcohols may be a superior approach to direct synthesis. Therefore, the focus of the research effort at UOP has shifted to the identification of catalysts for the conversion of methanol to higher branched alcohols, particularly isobutanol. A series of mixed metal oxide catalysts based on either conventional methanol synthesis catalysts, the Zr/Zn/Mn oxide catalysts or Mg/Al metal oxide solid solutions (MOSSs) have been evaluated for the conversion of methanol to higher alcohols.

• Research Organization: UOP, Inc., Des Plaines, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-91PC90042
• OSTI ID: 10107327
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/90042-T10; ON: DE95005185; BR: AA2520000; TRN: AHC29505%%29
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: [1993]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CARBON MONOXIDE
METHANATION
METHANOL
CONVERSION
2-METHYLPROPANOL
SYNTHESIS
CATALYSTS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PROGRESS REPORT
2-METHYLPROPENE
CESIUM
COPPER
ZINC
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CHROMIUM OXIDES
PALLADIUM
POTASSIUM
ZIRCONIUM
MANGANESE OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
MAGNESIUM
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
100200
010408
PRODUCTION
C1 PROCESSES