AMORPHOUS ALLOY CATALYSIS .8. A NEW ACTIVATION OF AN AMORPHOUS CU41ZR59 ALLOY IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF METHYL-ALCOHOL TO METHYL FORMATE

Successive oxidation of an amorphous Cu41Zr59 alloy followed by reacti on generates an active and selective catalyst in the dehydrogenation o f methanol to methyl formate (about 80% selectivity at 40% conversion at 220 degrees C). The high activity and selectivity of the catalyst t hus formed can be maintained for a long period (over 150 h on stream). A similar activation of Cu-Ti and Cu-Hf was unsuccessful. The compari son of Cu(0) surface areas determined in situ or after reducing the us ed catalysts in hydrogen indicates that oxidized copper species are th e active sites in the transformation.