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 gm of unactivated copper chromite (containing 31.1% copper and 29% chromium) impregnated with 1% Cs2CO3 and 150 cc methanol and then reduced in situ using a stream of pure H2 flowing at 25 cc/min. for 16 hours at 170° C. The catalyst was added as powder. 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) 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 4.92 gmoles/h/kg. cat was obtained with 23% synthesis gas conversion and 95% selectivity towards methanol. An exit gas composition of 65% 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% H2O and traces of dimethyl ether and dissolved gasses was obtained. No higher alcohols were detected.

Provenance & Evidence