COMPOUND CATALYST FOR HIGH YIELDS OF OLEFINS FROM SYNTHESIS GAS - CATALYTIC REACTION STEPS

Compound catalysts involving methanol-synthesis/methanol-conversion fu nctions offer promise for selective conversion of synthesis gas into C -2-C-3 hydrocarbons and particularly of C-2-C-3 olefins. This approach was followed, by modifying a ZSM5 zeolite with the addition of P comp ounds. The catalyst was characterized using SEM-EDX, BET, XRD and TPD. To elucidate the reaction mechanism, experiments were conducted in a Berty well mixed reactor to establish the following: a) methanol is a key intermediate present in minute amounts, b) water gas shift reactio n takes places under conditions of equilibrium, c) hydrogenation and c ondensation of light olefins into higher hydrocarbons is mild and allo ws for significant fractions of C-2-C-3 olefins to be produced.