2063.     LARSON, A. T.  Ammonia and Methanol Catalysts.  Trans. Electrochem. Soc., vol. 71, 1937, pp. 346-351; Chem. Abs., vol. 31, 1937, p. 3644.

        MeOH catalysts are reactive at appreciably lower temperatures than NH₃ catalysts.  One of the earliest commercial catalysts for NH₃ was Fe to which was added a small % of a promoter such as oxides of the alkaline earths.  Generally speaking, most MeOH catalysts have operating temperatures 350°-400°.  NH₃ is the only product of the interaction of N₂ with H₂, but the products of the interaction of CO and H₂ are numerous, often depending upon the catalyst used.  Thus, for example, a mixture of ZnO and Al₂O₃ as catalyst will produce Me₂O, and a mixture of ZnO and Cr₂O₃ will confine the product to MeOH over a wide range of temperature.  S has a serious, poisonous effect on the Fe catalysts for NH₃, but has no effect on the ZnO-Cr₂O₃ catalyst for MeOH.