Preparation, Structural Characteristics, and Catalytic Performance of Cu–Co Alloy Supported on Mn–Al Oxide for Higher Alcohol Synthesis via Syngas

Abstract

A series of Mn–Al oxide supported Cu–Co alloy catalysts having various molar ratios of Cu/Co were prepared using the facile sol–gel synthesis, with the aim of investigating the effects of the chemical, physical properties in the catalytic behavior on higher alcohol synthesis (HAS). The as-prepared samples were characterized through utilizing XRD, BET, TEM, XPS, H2-TPD/TPR, CO-TPD, in-situ CO adsorption DRIFTS, and CO-TPSR techniques. The study suggests that the proper ratio of Cu/Co could adjust the amount of adsorbed hydrogen and nondissociatively adsorbed CO at the surface of catalyst on CO hydrogenation and insertion, improve the reducibility, and ameliorate the catalytic behavior for HAS. Especially, the 3Cu–5Co/(Mn–Al) catalyst showed the best catalytic behavior with a CO conversion of 33.4%, total alcohol selectivity of 39.7%, C2+ alcohol selectivity in the total alcohols of 57.3% at GHSV of 5000 h–1, 260 °C, and 5 MPa.