Influences of the surface modification of carbon supports on the nickel-catalyzed vapor phase carbonylation of methanol

Abstract

The suitability of various carbonaceous materials, modified by oxidation and/or defunctionalization in the vapor phase methanol carbonylation, was inquired. In addition to a comparison of activities and their dependence on process time, the catalysts were characterized by carbon monoxide and methyl iodide chemisorption as well as by temperature programmed reaction, XRD and XPS. While oxidized and subsequently defunctionalized carbon-supported catalysts achieved good performances, surface-oxidized carbons have been shown to be unsuitable carriers.