Trifunctional catalysts for conversion of syngas to alcohols. Third quarterly report, March 1-May 31, 1985

Technical Report · Tue Jun 11 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5722038

Bischoff, K B; Manogue, W; Mills, G A

An exploratory series of prepared and purchased rhodium catalysts have been tested for CO hydrogenation with interesting results. The results are summarized in tabular form for typical test conditions, 250/sup 0/C, 30 atmospheres pressure, 2 H/sub 2//CO at 4000 GHSV. Rhodium-alumina catalysts are moderately active, e.g., 6% CO conversion. Selectivity of CO to oxygenates is typically 30% with the balance mostly methane. An important feature is that 75% of the oxygenates are C/sub 2+/, including ethanol, acetic acid and methyl and ethyl acetates. The addition of sodium or potassium lowered the activity considerably. However for the highest Na level tested, (2% wt. Na) selectivity to oxygenates increased to 55 to 75%, though CO conversion was only about 1% to 2.5%. The addition of 1% Mn to Rh-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ decreased activity with no increase in selectivity. A higher Mn loading decreased activity further without affecting selectivity. This is quite contrary to previous observations on the effect of Mn on SiO/sub 2/-based Rh catalysts. Two catalysts containing SiO/sub 2/ gave relatively high selectivity. One, a Rh-Mn-Mo-SiO/sub 2/ catalyst, similar to the Van den Berg catalyst, gave 6% conversion and 50 to 70% selectivity to oxygenates. Another catalyst, Rh-Mn-Mo- Florisil (SiO/sub 2/-MgO), gave the highest selectivity found so far, 93%, though at low conversion. A Pd-active carbon catalyst produced only methanol (no CH/sub 4/ or C/sub 2/H/sub 5/OH). The above catalysts now provide a basis for experiments relating composition to performance, to provide samples for study by instrumental techniques, and to provide a rational basis for additional catalyst preparations. 3 figs., 6 tabs.

• Research Organization: Delaware Univ., Newark (USA). Center for Catalytic Science and Technology
• DOE Contract Number: FG22-84PC70780
• OSTI ID: 5722038
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/70780-T2; ON: DE85013127
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090221* -- Alcohol Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
ALCOHOLS
ALKALI METALS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGENATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MANGANESE
MEDIUM PRESSURE
METALS
MINERALS
MOLYBDENUM
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALLADIUM
PLATINUM METALS
POTASSIUM
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RHODIUM
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SODIUM
SYNTHESIS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS