Synthesis of methanol and isobutanol from syngas over ZrO 2-based catalysts

Abstract

The effects of reaction conditions on the synthesis of isobutanol and methanol from syngas over ZrK and ZrMnK catalysts have been investigated, with the reactions carried out at pressures between 8 and 16 MPa, temperatures between 380 and 440 °C, and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) between 3 000 and 8 000 h −1. It was found that the ZrK catalyst exhibited the highest activity and selectivity at 420 °C, 10.0 MPa, and 5 000 h −1, and that the Mn-promoted catalyst increased the yield of isobutanol with the corresponding optimum temperature being 400 °C. Moreover, the higher pressure and GHSV favored isobutanol synthesis. At 16. 0 MPa, 400 °C, 5 000 h −1, the space time yield of isobutanol was about 21.5 ml per ml cat. h −1, and selectivity reached 98% over the ZrMnK catalyst.