SYNTHESIS OF OXYGEN-CONTAINING C-2 COMPOUNDS FROM CARBON-MONOXIDE ANDHYDROGEN OVER RHODIUM-CONTAINING HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSTS UNDER PRESSURE

An investigation has been made of a series of supported rhodium cataly sts in the synthesis of oxygen-containing compounds from carbon monoxi de and hydrogen. It was established that, in the temperature range 180 -380 degrees C at pressures of 2.0-5.0 MPa, most active in the formati on of the target products are catalysts containing 2.5% Ph on a suppor t - wide-pore SiO2 with a specific surface of 30 m(2)/g. It is expedie nt to use lanthanum, cerium or rhenium as the promoters. The best of t he catalysts investigated exhibited stability over a period of 150 hr at 10.0 MPa and 300-330 degrees C, ensuring a productivity with respec t to ethanol of 55-65 g/kg Cat . hr, and with respect to total oxygen- containing C-2 compounds of 60-68 g/kg Cat . hr. (C) 1996 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.