Homogeneous catalyst formulations for methanol production

Patent · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867429

Mahajan, Devinder ^[1]; Sapienza, Richard S ^[2]; Slegeir, William A ^[3]; O'Hare, Thomas E ^[4]

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1. Port Jefferson, NY
2. Shoreham, NY
3. Hampton Bays, NY
4. Huntington Station, NY

There is disclosed synthesis of CH.sub.3 OH from carbon monoxide and hydrogen using an extremely active homogeneous catalyst for methanol synthesis directly from synthesis gas. The catalyst operates preferably between 100.degree.-150.degree. C. and preferably at 100-150 psia synthesis gas to produce methanol. Use can be made of syngas mixtures which contain considerable quantities of other gases, such as nitrogen, methane or excess hydrogen. The catalyst is composed of two components: (a) a transition metal carbonyl complex and (b) an alkoxide component. In the simplest formulation, component (a) is a complex of nickel tetracarbonyl and component (b) is methoxide (CH.sub.3 O.sup.13 ), both being dissolved in a methanol solvent system. The presence of a co-solvent such as p-dioxane, THF, polyalcohols, ethers, hydrocarbons, and crown ethers accelerates the methanol synthesis reaction.

• Research Organization: ASSOC UNIVERSITIES INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc. (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4935395
• OSTI ID: 867429
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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