Mechanisms for activation of hydrogen and hydrogenation of acetone to isopropanol and of carbon oxides to methanol over copper-containing oxide catalysts

The present paper summarizes the results of comprehensive studies by a set of methods of the processes of reduction of copper chromite and of solid so lutions of copper ions in zinc oxide. The composition and structure of copp er-containing oxide catalysts in hydrogen medium and the nature of activate d hydrogen species were investigated. Quantitative data on the interaction between hydrogen and the oxide catalysts and on the interaction of molecule s to be hydrogenated with the reduced state of the catalysts are presented. The mechanisms for the synthesis of methanol from CO and CO2 and for the h ydrogenation of acetone to isopropanol are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.