Carbon Dioxide → Methyl formate

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. of activated copper chromite (containing 31.1% copper and 29% chromium) impregnated with 1% Ca-nitrate-tetrahydrate and 150 cc. methanol and then reduced in situ using a stream of pure H2 flowing at 25 cc/min. for 16 hrs. at 170° C. The catalyst was added as a powder. The reactor was pressurized to 910 psig. and the temperature was adjusted to 150° C. 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 the H2 consumption of 3.2 gmole/h/kg. cat was obtained with 11% synthesis gas conversion and 95% selectivity towards methanol. An exit gas composition of 68.0% H2, 30.0% CO, 0.4% CO2, 0.8% methanol, 0.7% methyl formate, 0.1% H2O and 0.05% 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. No higher alcohols were detected.

Provenance & Evidence