Low-Temperature Methanol Synthesis in Catalytic Systems Composed of Copper-Based Oxides and Alkali Alkoxides in Liquid Media: Effects of Reaction Variables on Catalytic Performance

Abstract

Catalytic systems composed of copper-based oxides and alkali alkoxides are tested for low-temperature methanol synthesis in liquid phases, which involves carbonylation of methanol to methyl formate and consecutive hydrogenation of methyl formate to methanol. The effects of reaction variables on the catalytic performance are investigated under the conditions of 373-423K temperature and 1.5-5.0 Mpa pressure. The combined catalytic systems of copper chromite and potassium methoxide exhibit excellent activities for the production of methanol. Higher values of reaction temperature, initial pressure, catalyst loading, and H₂/CO ratio of the feed gas lead to higher methanol productivity. In particular, the reaction temperatures and the feed gas compositions strongly influence the catalytic performance. No methanol is formed when employing a feed gas containing 2% CO₂. The catalytic systems are deactivated in a short period even in a CO₂-free feed gas, due to the consumption of the alkoxide component. Alkali alkoxides are consumed through reactions with trace amounts of CO₂ and H₂O which are formed as by-products during the course of the runs. The results also suggest that the hydrogenation step of methyl formate over copper chromite is greatly accelerated in the presence of the alkali alkoxide.