EFFECT OF CATALYST THICKNESS ON OVER-ALL REACTION-RATE OF LIQUID-PHASE METHANOL SYNTHESIS

A liquid-phase methanol synthesis process, which combines two-step rea ction involving methyl formate is studied to recover wasted or unused discharged heat from industrial sources for the thermal energy demands of residential and commercial areas by chemical reactions. To evaluat e the effect of development condition of a plate-type Raney copper cat alyst on the over-all chemical reaction rate with transport process wi thin catalyst involved, the chemical reaction rate of methanol synthes is by hydrogenolysis of methyl formate is measured using the catalyst in an autoclave reactor. The reaction rate is obtained by measuring th e decrease in pressure due to chemical reaction. We focus on the effec t of Raney copper catalyst thickness on the liquid-phase chemical reac tion by varying the development time of the catalyst. Investigation re sults of the catalyst such as surface area, pore radius, lattice size, and photographs of scanning electron microscope (SEM) are also given. It is observed that the over-all reaction rate increases with catalys t thickness for thickness under 56 mu m due to enhancement of activati on of the catalyst, then decreases with it for higher thickness over 5 6 mu m due to the decrease of activation of the catalyst and the effec t of diffusion process within the catalyst. It is considered that the optimum of activation arises from the proper size, and the regular sha pe of catalyst particles.