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Selective formation of methanol from synthesis gas over palladium catalysts

Journal Article · · J. Catal.; (United States)
Hydrogenation of carbon monoxide over supported Pd catalysts gave methanol in high selectivity at 260 to 350/sup 0/C and 150 to 16,000 psig of pressure. Methanation became significant only outside the temperature--pressure regime for which methanol formation is thermodynamically favorable. The behavior of Pt and Ir appears similar although fewer data have been gathered. The catalytic behavior of these three noble metals toward synthesis gas is thus not only different from that commonly thought but also sharply contrasted with that of the other Group VIII metals for which ultimate C-O bond hydrogenolysis and hydrocarbon formation are a dominating feature. Silica-supported Pd was directly compared with Ni at 314/sup 0/C and 12.25 atm of CO:H/sub 2/ (30:70); Pd not only gave methanol formation rather than the methanation observed for Ni but also much less chain growth activity than Ni. It is suggested that these differences in catalytic performance may be related to the inability of Pd (and Pt and Ir as well) to chemisorb CO dissociatively at reaction temperatures, compared to other Group VIII metals.
Research Organization:
Union Carbide Corp., Tarrytown, NY
OSTI ID:
5046540
Journal Information:
J. Catal.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Catal.; (United States) Vol. 52:1; ISSN JCTLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English