Differences in the promotional effect of the group IA elements on unsupported copper catalysts for carbon monoxide hydrogenation

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Catalysis; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9517(89)90115-2· OSTI ID:6473145

Sheffer, G R; King, T S ^[1]

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1. Iowa State Univ., Ames (USA)

The differences in promotional effect of the Group IA elements on unsupported copper catalysts for carbon monoxide hydrogenation have been examined. Methanol was selectivity produced on all catalysts at 523 K, 5 MPa, and with a feed gas of molar composition H{sub 2}/CO = 2. When normalized with respect to surface area, the methanol synthesis rate was found to increase by an order of magnitude from Li to Cs with the majority of the increase occurring from Na to K. On the basis of apparent activation energy measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy results, activity differences were attributed to differences in the concentration of Cu{sup +} species at the surface and not to electronic effects. Alkali-cuprates, for example LiCuO, were determined not to be the active phase responsible for Cu{sup +} stabilization. Under conditions more favorable for higher alcohol synthesis, 573 K and H{sub 2}/CO = 1, little change in selectivity was observed for the Na-, K-, Rb-, and Cs-promoted catalysts. However, the lithium-promoted catalyst produced an equimolar mixture of normal alcohols and hydrocarbons. Both product distributions were found to give linear Flory plots with propagation constants of 0.3 for alcohols and 0.5 for hydrocarbons.

• OSTI ID: 6473145
• Journal Information: Journal of Catalysis; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis; (USA) Vol. 116:2; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTIVATION ENERGY
ALCOHOLS
ALKALI METALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CESIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COPPER
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
EQUATIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGENATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KINETIC EQUATIONS
KINETICS
LITHIUM
MEDIUM PRESSURE
METALS
METHANATION
METHANOL
MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
POTASSIUM
PROMOTERS
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTION KINETICS
RUBIDIUM
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SODIUM
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACE AREA
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS GAS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY