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Title: Alcohol synthesis from carbon monoxide and hydrogen over MoS sub 2 -based catalysts

Miscellaneous ·
OSTI ID:6763797

The synthesis of linear C{sub 1}-C{sub 4} alcohols from synthesis gas (CO + H{sub 2}) over alkali-promoted MoS{sub 2}-based catalysts has been studied. A large doping level of alkali was essential for the formation of alcohols rather than hydrocarbons over these catalysts. The indispensable presence of the alkali salt promoter for alcohol synthesis was due to the bifunctionality of the catalyst in which the alkali activates CO and MoS{sub 2} activates H{sub 2}. Injection of {sup 13}C-labeled CH{sub 3} OH into the synthesis gas stream over alkali-promoted MoS{sub 2}-based catalysts and analysis by {sup 13}C NMR spectroscopy of the condensable products, accompanied by mass spectrometric analysis of light gaseous products, demonstrated that the alcohol chain growth occurred via a classical CO insertion mechanism, and that methane is a secondary product that is formed from an alkyl moiety generated from a C{sub 1}-oxygenated precursor. The addition of cobalt to the alkali-doped MoS{sub 2} catalyst greatly enhanced the rate of the C{sub 1} {yields} C{sub 2} growth step so that ethanol became the dominant product. The alkali-doped MoS{sub 2} catalysts prior to and after attaining their work state were fully characterized by XPS, XRD, STEM, and surface area measurements. Pretreatment (400 C, 2% H{sub 2}/N{sub 2} 1 h) of the catalysts induces not only reduction of surface species such as Mo(VI) and SO{sub 4}{sup 2{minus}} detected on the fresh catalysts, but also dispersion of the cesium on the MoS{sub 2} surface. The oxidation states of S and Mo in the tested catalysts correspond to those of MoS{sub 2}. XPS intensity equations were derived from geometrical models of the catalyst surface to determine the degree of dispersion and/or segregation of Cs on the MoS{sub 2} surface.

Research Organization:
Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6763797
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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