1098.    FROLICH, P. K., FENSKE, M. R., AND QUIGGLE, D.  Catalysts for the Formation of Alcohols From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen.  I.  Decomposition of Methanol by Catalysts Composed of Copper and Zinc.  Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 20, 1928, pp. 694-698; Chem. Abs., vol. 22, 1928, p. 3338.

        Study of the catalytic decomposition of CH₃OH at 360° and 1 atm., with mixtures of ZnO and CuO in varying proportions, indicates that the maximum decomposition and formation of CO occur when the ZnO is present in excess.  At 40-50 mol. % ZnO, the molecules CO formed per mol. CH₃OH increase about 350%.  The addition of a small amount of ZnO to CuO very markedly increases the decomposition of CH₃OH.  A catalyst consisting of 3 mols. % ZnO and 97% CuO decomposes 26% of the CH₃OH, while pure Cu decomposes only 9% under similar experimental conditions.  A mixture containing 98.6 mols. % ZnO and 1.4 mols. % CuO decomposes 41% of the CH₃OH, whereas pure ZnO decomposes 33% under similar experimental conditions.  Cu promoted with ZnO favors formation of HCOOCH₃, and CO formation is favored by ZnO promoted with Cu.