TITLE: Catalysts for Alcohols from Biomass. Final Technical Report, February 1980-January 1983.

AUTHOR: K. Klier;   R. G. Herman;   G. W. Simmons.

INST.  AUTHOR: Lehigh Univ., Bethlehem, PA. Center for Surface and Coatings Research.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  Mar 83,  57p.

ABSTRACT:

Modification of the Cu/ZnO = 30/70 mol % methanol synthesis catalyst by incorporation of Mn, Fe, Co, Rh, and Pd by aqueous coprecipitation from nitrate solutions or by impregnation of the binary catalyst with metal carbonyls from organic media resulted in a lowering of the carbon conversion of synthesis gas to products. Of the coprecipitated ternary catalysts, the Fe/Cu/ZnO samples exhibited the largest change in selectivities, which was toward the formation of higher alcohols and hydrocarbons. It was demonstrated that the alcohols are formed as primary products and are produced at high rates over a Fe/Cu/ZnO catalyst containing 1 mol % iron than over Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. The catalysts that were prepared by impregnation of metal carbonyls onto the surface of reduced Cu/ZnO catalysts exhibited very low catalytic activities. However, it was shown that the activities of the Rh catalysts were increased by the utilization of elevated pressures. The effects of CO sub 2 and H sub 2 O in the H sub 2 /CO synthesis gas on the methanol yield over the binary Cu/ZnO catalyst were investigated. (ERA citation 08:031380)

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/CS/83001-1

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC02-80CS83001