CHARACTERIZATION OF COPPER-COBALT CATALYSTS FOR ALCOHOL SYNTHESIS FROM SYNGAS

We have previously reported that copper-cobalt catalysts supported on MgO, La2O3, CeO2, TiO2, ZrO2 and SiO2 exhibit different catalytic beha viours for the formation of higher alcohols in the CO + H-2 reaction. These catalysts were characterised by complementary techniques. The ex tent of reduction of the copper-cobalt phase studied by magnetic measu rements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), varied with the na ture of support; the presence of copper enhanced the reducibility of c obalt on MgO and SiO2. From XPS results, and those deduced from Fourie r transform infrared and ethane hydrogenolysis, it is concluded that n o formation of a superficial Cu-Co alloy occurred during, or after, re duction by hydrogen.