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Methanol synthesis over a Cu/ThO/sub 2/ catalyst

Journal Article · · J. Catal.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6186993
A Cu/ThO/sub 2/ catalyst prepared from the binary alloy ThCu/sub 6/ was found active for the synthesis of methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. X-Ray diffraction revealed the presence of a Cu/sup +/ species, suggested as the active species for methanol synthesis. The effects of P/sub CO/, P/sub H2/ and temperature on the kinetics of methanol synthesis, suggest a Langmuir-Hinselwood mechanism for dual site adsorption in which CO is strongly adsorbed and H/sub 2/ weakly adsorbed. Studies of the effect of H/sub 2//CO ratio revealed that the use of low hydrogen content synthesis gas, i.e., H/sub 2//CO = 0.8/1.0, results in rapid catalyst deactivation. X-Ray diffraction and thermal gravimetric studies attributed catalyst deactivation to carbon formation, a probable consequence of the Boudouard reaction. Differential scanning calorimetry studies suggested that the carbon exists as both atomic carbon, readily reactive with hydrogen to yield methane, and amorphous or polymeric carbon, less reactive and the primary agent of catalyst deactivation. 12 references, 8 figures, 2 tables.
Research Organization:
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA
OSTI ID:
6186993
Journal Information:
J. Catal.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Catal.; (United States) Vol. 89:1; ISSN JCTLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English