TITLE: Promotion Effects on the Synthesis of Higher Alcohols. 11th Quarterly Report, January-March 1985.

AUTHOR: J. G. Goodwin;   S. C. Chuang.

INST.  AUTHOR: Pittsburgh Univ., PA. Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  Apr 85,  30p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE85011001/INW

ABSTRACT:

In order to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of CO hydrogenation, we have studied Ni/SiO sub 2 (a methanation catalyst), Ru/SiO sub 2 (a higher hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst), Rh/SiO sub 2 (a synthesis catalyst with high selectivity for C sub 2 oxygenates), and Pd/SiO sub 2 (a methanol synthesis catalyst) by the addition of probe molecules to CO/H sub 2 under synthesis conditions. Ethylene, ethanol, and acetaldehyde were utilized as probe molecules in this study. The addition of ethylene can produce hydrocarbon intermediates, and the addition of ethanol and acetaldehyde may lead to oxygen-containing intermediates.  These intermediates may be similar to those produced by Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis. The addition of such probe molecules, however, could have a great effect on the overall product distribution. The possible reactions due to the addition of these probe molecules are summarized in Table I-III. By determining the ability of a catalyst to catalyze these specific reaction steps, the reaction paths for the formation of hydrocarbons and oxygenates on these metal catalysts may be clarified. 49 refs., 1 fig., 9 tabs. (ERA citation 10:030068)

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/50810-T10

CONTRACT  NUMBER: FG22-82PC50810