Carbon Dioxide → Carbon Dioxide

Participants

Reaction Steps

Synthesis gas having an inlet composition of 66.6% H2, 33.3% CO and 0.1% CO2 was fed to a 300 cc. stainless steel autoclave charged with 3 gms. copper chromite (containing 31.1% copper and 29% chromium), 0.5 gms. potassium methoxide and 150 cc. methanol, reduced in situ using a stream of pure H2 flowing at 25 cc./min. for 16 hours at 170° C. Both catalysts were added separately in the powder form. The reactor was pressurized to 910 psig. and the temperature was adjusted to 150° C., using a temperature controller. Synthesis gas at a flow rate of 105 cc./min. (measured under standard conditions) and a feed H2 /CO ratio of 2, was made to react under isothermal conditions. After an initial transient period, the process reached a steady state with respect to the amount of synthesis gas converted. A methanol production rate based on H2 consumption of 21.2 gmoles/h/kg. cat was obtained with 74% syngas conversion and 95% selectivity towards methanol. An exit gas composition of 66% H2, 32% CO, 0.8% CO2, 0.7% methanol, 0.4% methyl formate, 0.2% H2O and 0.07% dimethyl ether was obtained. A liquid composition of 95.6% methanol, 4% methyl formate, 0.3% water and traces of dimethyl ether and dissolved gases was obtained.

Provenance & Evidence