Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite for methanol synthesis
- Pittsburgh, PA
The present invention relates to a novel route for the synthesis of methanol, and more specifically to the production of methanol by contacting synthesis gas under relatively mild conditions in a slurry phase with a catalyst combination comprising reduced copper chromite and basic alkali salts or alkaline earth salts. The present invention allows the synthesis of methanol to occur in the temperature range of approximately 100.degree.-160.degree. C. and the pressure range of 40-65 atm. The process produces methanol with up to 90% syngas conversion per pass and up to 95% methanol selectivity. The only major by-product is a small amount of easily separated methyl formate. Very small amounts of water, carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether are also produced. The present catalyst combination also is capable of tolerating fluctuations in the H.sub.2 /CO ratio without major deleterious effect on the reaction rate. Furthermore, carbon dioxide and water are also tolerated without substantial catalyst deactivation.
- Research Organization:
- University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG22-89PC89786
- Assignee:
- University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5221652
- OSTI ID:
- 868822
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite
Alkali or alkaline earth metal promoted catalyst and a process for methanol synthesis using alkali or alkaline earth metals as promoters
Related Subjects
/502/518/
100
40-65
90
95
alkali
alkali salt
alkali salts
alkaline
alkaline earth
allows
amount
amounts
approximately
atm
basic
basic alkali
by-product
capable
carbon
carbon dioxide
catalyst
catalyst combination
catalyst deactivation
chromite
combination
combination comprising
comprising
comprising reduced
conditions
contacting
contacting synthesis
conversion
copper
copper chromite
deactivation
degree
deleterious
deleterious effect
dimethyl
dioxide
earth
earth salts
easily
easily separated
effect
fluctuations
formate
furthermore
gas
gas conversion
major
major by-product
major deleterious
methanol
methanol selectivity
methanol synthesis
methyl
methyl formate
mild
mild conditions
novel
novel route
occur
pass
phase
pressure
pressure range
process
process produces
produced
produces
produces methanol
production
range
rate
ratio
reaction
reaction rate
reduced
reduced copper
relates
relatively
relatively mild
route
salts
selectivity
separated
separated methyl
slurry
slurry phase
specifically
substantial
substantial catalyst
syngas
syngas conversion
synthesis
synthesis gas
temperature
temperature range
tolerated
tolerating
tolerating fluctuations
water