TITLE: Novel process for methanol synthesis. Progress report, September 1, 1990--November 30, 1990.

AUTHOR: J. W. Tierney;   I. Wender.

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],  1990,  21p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE92001961INW

ABSTRACT:

A bench-salce reactor is being used to conduct studies of the conversion of synthesis gas to methanol by a novel process. During the last quarter, we investigated the nature of the reactions involved and the nature of the Cu-chromite catalyst being used. There is evidence that methanol is formed via a two step reaction with a methyl formate intermediate rather than by the direct hydrogenation of CO. The carbonylation reaction predominantly takes place in the liquid phase while the hydrogenolysis reaction is restricted to the surface of Cu-chromite. At steady state, the carbonylation reaction taking place in the region close to the Cu-chromite surface is probably the main source of MeF. This model also explains the increased tolerance of the process to CO. A mechanistic model is proposed to explain the interaction of different species in the reaction mixture.  The topography of the Cu-chromite surface is also investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. 15 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/89786-T2

CONTRACT  NUMBER: FG22-89PC89786