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Direct alcohol synthesis using modified cobalt catalysts

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6731397· OSTI ID:6731397

We have investigated factors affecting methanol and higher alcohol synthesis using mixed copper/cobalt based catalysts. We studied coprecipitated Cu/Co/Zn/Al/K catalysts in our preliminary studies. We prepared mixed oxide precursors and Cu/Co/Cr/K catalysts by the complexation method. We studied the effects of CO{sub 2}/CO and H{sub 2}/CO ratios and catalyst composition on the activities and the alcohol selectivities of Cu/Co/Cr/K catalysts. CO{sub 2} in the feed gas inhibited activity and alcohol selectivity of unpromoted Cu/Cr and Cu/Co/Cr catalysts but did not affect the hydrocarbon yield. Decreasing H{sub 2}CO ratio decreased the activity of unpromoted Cu/Cr and Cu/Co/Cr catalysts but increased the alcohol yield of Cu/Co/Cr catalysts. Feed gas composition had little effect on the activity and selectivity of Cu/Cr/K catalyst. Increasing the Co content in the catalyst resulted in a decrease in catalyst activity and alcohol selectivity and an increase in hydrocarbon selectivity. K inhibited the activity and alcohol selectivity of Cu/Cr catalysts in the presence of a CO{sub 2}-free feed gas whereas K promoted the alcohol selectivity of Cu/Co/Cr catalysts. We developed an oxide coverage model to account for the effect of K and CO{sub 2} on the methanol synthesis rate. We proposed a unified model for active sites in Cu/Co/Cr/K catalysts. 58 refs.

Research Organization:
Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
FG05-87ER13814
OSTI ID:
6731397
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13814-2; ON: DE90014626
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English