Mixed Alcohol Synthesis from CO–H2 by Use of KCl-Promoted Mo/SiO2 Catalysts

Abstract

Abstract Highly active Mo catalysts for mixed alcohol synthesis were prepared using Fuji Davison ID silica gel as a carrier. KCl promoted the selectivity to alcohols but reduced CO conversions in particular to hydrocarbons. Productivity of alcohols was largely affected by the reaction conditions. High pressure and short contact time enhanced space-time yield of alcohols, i.e. 420 g (kg-catalyst)−1 h−1 at 5.0 MPa, 573 K, and W/F=1.4 g-catalyst h mol−1. The presence of K effectively prevented the complete reduction of Mo to metal, resulting in the increase in the production of alcohols. The study on addition of ethene and ethanol to synthesis gas revealed that the other roles of K are to retard dehydration of alcohols to alkenes and their hydrogenation to alkanes.