Chain growth scheme for the higher alcohols synthesis
A chain growth scheme for the synthesis of alcohols from carbon monoxide and hydrogen is proposed. The scheme describes the alcohol product distribution, assuming one or two carbon addition at the ..cap alpha..- or ..beta..-carbon atom of the growing alcohol. Estimates of the distribution parameters were obtained from selectivities measured for a range of operating conditions on a Cu/ZnO catalyst promoted with 0.5% K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/. The ..cap alpha..-addition is a slow step with a large activation energy (140 kJ/mol) while ..beta..-addition is faster and has a smaller activation energy (66 kJ/mol). Large methanol selectivities result from the slow initial ..cap alpha..-addition, and large 2-methyl-1-propanol selectivites from ..cap alpha..-addition being the only growth step of the 2-methyl-1-propanol intermediate. The rate of chain growth is approximately proportional to the CO partial pressure and the rate of chain termination proportional to the H/sup 2/ partial pressure. Addition of alcohols to the synthesis gas resulted in significant increases in the yields of some of the alcohols, consistent with the chain growth scheme.
- Research Organization:
- McMaster Univ., Hamilton, Ontario
- OSTI ID:
- 6952044
- Journal Information:
- J. Catal.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Catal.; (United States) Vol. 85:2; ISSN JCTLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALCOHOLS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONATES
CATALYSIS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPPER
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
METHANATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM CARBONATES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
PYROMETERS
REACTION KINETICS
SYNTHESIS
THERMODYNAMICS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC COMPOUNDS
ZINC OXIDES