FORMATION OF A CATALYST FOR METHANOL SYNTHESIS

Formation of the structure in a copper-zinc catalyst for methanol synt hesis is analyzed at each step of its preparation including hydrogen a ctivation at which catalytically active species are formed. The necess ary interaction of the catalyst components in fresh precipitates is pr ovided by formation of mixed copper-zinc hydroxocarbonates. On low-tem perature calcination, the interaction is preserved due to the formatio n of mixed copper-zinc oxides modified by OH- and CO32- anions with co pper ions distributed as clusters in a zinc oxide-type structure. The activation with hydrogen results in formation of a proton-stabilized s ystem of zinc oxide with epitaxially bound metallic copper. Both the c hemical bond cleavage and spatial phase segregation at any step of the catalyst preparation result in the loss of its catalytic activity.