ALCOHOL SYNTHESIS FROM CO H-2 OVER CO/CU/ZNO/AL2O3 - IN-SITU ADDITIONOF CH3NO2/

A Co/Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by cobalt impregnation of a commer cial methanol-synthesis catalyst was used to study the formation of al cohols from CO/H-2. The addition of cobalt selectively and significant ly suppressed methanol formation without promoting the formation rates of higher alcohols. Co also poisoned the promoting effect of CO2 on m ethanol formation, suggesting that the primary role of Co was to block the pathway for methanol formation from CO2/H-2. The addition of nitr omethane to Co/Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 suppressed the formation rates of all alco hols equally and produced substituted methylamines, probably by divert ing the aldehydic intermediate for methanol formation, The equal suppr ession of C-1-C-3 alcohols observed during nitromethane addition sugge sts that the same intermediate was involved in the formation of methan ol and higher alcohols over Co/Cu/ZnO/Al2O3. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.