Hydrogenolysis of methyl formate by H{sub 2}/CO mixtures with CuO/ZnO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} based methanol synthesis catalysts
- Univ. di Pisa (Italy). Dipt. di Chimica e Chimica Industriale
- SNAMPROGETTI S.p.A., San Donato Milanese (Italy). Research Div.
Ternary copper-based catalysts of type CuO/ZnO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, CuO/ZnO/Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and CuO/ZnO/La{sub 2}O{sub 3} have been advantageously used in the hydrogenolysis of methyl and ethyl formate to methanol. The catalysts are active under mild conditions (150--185 C; 5--10 MPa) both in gas-solid and in gas-liquid-solid phases with high selectivities to methanol (80--90%). The decarbonylation of the formic ester is the only side reaction, but the catalysts, different from other copper-based systems, do not suffer from the presence of Co in the reaction gases. Accordingly the hydrogenolysis may be carried out with a hydrogen feed containing CO without any poisoning of the catalyst or decrease of the selectivity to methanol. A preliminary screening of different copper catalysts points out that the insensitivity to CO might be related to the presence of basic sites on the catalysts.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 178396
- Journal Information:
- Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 34, Issue 7; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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