Potassium's promotional effect of unsupported copper catalysts for methanol synthesis

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Catalysis; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9517(89)90042-0· OSTI ID:7130521

Sheffer, G R; King, T S ^[1]

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1. Iowa State Univ., Ames (USA)

This paper presents an investigation of the promotional effect of potassium on unsupported copper catalysts for the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the authors determined that under reaction conditions copper exists as a mixture of Cu{sup +} and Cu{sup 0} species. Metallic copper by itself is inactive for the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide, while the authors have found that the addition of potassium to copper forms an active and selective (up to 98 wt %) methanol synthesis catalyst. The initiation of catalytic activity correlated with the stabilization of the Cu{sup +} species. The potassium promoter was determined to be in the form of the thermodynamically stable carbonate. Potassium promotes this catalyst by stabilizing the Cu{sup +} species, probably in the form of CuKCO{sub 3}.

• OSTI ID: 7130521
• Journal Information: Journal of Catalysis; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis; (USA) Vol. 115:2; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALCOHOLS
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ALKALI METALS
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POTASSIUM CARBONATES
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
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REACTION KINETICS
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SYNTHESIS
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X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY