Homogeneous catalyst formulations for methanol production

Patent · Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:867702

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.-), 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: Associated Universities, Inc., Upton, NY (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc. (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4992480
• Application Number: 07/500,935
• OSTI ID: 867702
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

homogeneous
catalyst
formulations
methanol
production
disclosed
synthesis
oh
carbon
monoxide
hydrogen
extremely
active
directly
gas
operates
preferably
100
degree
-150
100-150
psia
produce
syngas
mixtures
contain
considerable
quantities
gases
nitrogen
methane
excess
composed
components
transition
metal
carbonyl
complex
alkoxide
component
simplest
formulation
nickel
tetracarbonyl
methoxide
dissolved
solvent
presence
co-solvent
p-dioxane
thf
polyalcohols
ethers
hydrocarbons
crown
accelerates
reaction
produce methanol
crown ethers
homogeneous catalyst
ethanol production
gas mixtures
carbon monoxide
synthesis gas
transition metal
gas mixture
metal carbonyl
methanol production
methanol synthesis
carbonyl complex
catalyst formulations
active homogeneous
nickel tetracarbonyl
metal carbon
contain considerable
synthesis reaction
catalyst operates
oxide component
excess hydrogen
synthesis directly
extremely active
simplest form
disclosed synthesis
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