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Title: Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite for methanol synthesis

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Pittsburgh, PA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
OSTI Identifier:
868822
Patent Number(s):
5221652
Assignee:
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY
C - CHEMISTRY C07 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY C07C - ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
DOE Contract Number:  
FG22-89PC89786
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
methanol; synthesis; catalyst; combination; alkali; alkaline; earth; salts; reduced; copper; chromite; relates; novel; route; specifically; production; contacting; gas; relatively; mild; conditions; slurry; phase; comprising; basic; allows; occur; temperature; range; approximately; 100; degree; -160; pressure; 40-65; atm; process; produces; 90; syngas; conversion; pass; 95; selectivity; major; by-product; amount; easily; separated; methyl; formate; amounts; water; carbon; dioxide; dimethyl; produced; capable; tolerating; fluctuations; ratio; deleterious; effect; reaction; rate; furthermore; tolerated; substantial; deactivation; pressure range; methyl formate; gas conversion; alkali salts; slurry phase; reduced copper; relatively mild; reaction rate; temperature range; carbon dioxide; synthesis gas; alkaline earth; process produces; mild conditions; catalyst combination; easily separated; methanol synthesis; methanol selectivity; separated methyl; substantial catalyst; produces methanol; major by-product; major deleterious; novel route; combination comprising; earth salts; copper chromite; syngas conversion; tolerating fluctuations; catalyst deactivation; comprising reduced; deleterious effect; contacting synthesis; alkali salt; basic alkali; /502/518/

Citation Formats

Tierney, John W, Wender, Irving, and Palekar, Vishwesh M. Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite for methanol synthesis. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Tierney, John W, Wender, Irving, & Palekar, Vishwesh M. Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite for methanol synthesis. United States.
Tierney, John W, Wender, Irving, and Palekar, Vishwesh M. Fri . "Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite for methanol synthesis". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868822.
@article{osti_868822,
title = {Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite for methanol synthesis},
author = {Tierney, John W and Wender, Irving and Palekar, Vishwesh M},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}