Low temperature methanol synthesis from CO hydrogenation over Cu-based catalyst

A b as well as methanol selectivity (~90%) were achieved with a mass space velocity of 2700 L/h.kg-cat. at 433 K and 5.0 MPa via ethyl formate in slurry phase. This study investigated the influences of co-precipitation PH value of copper magnesium catalyst, types of alkali compounds as carbonylation promoters and impregnation agents, alcohol solvent on the reaction performances. It was also found that formate exhibited synergic function with alkali impregnated solid copper catalyst rather than other anion precursors, such as carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide, which contributed to the high catalytic performance in the presence of alcohol solvent. The proposed catalyst system was more highly active than industrial G99 and MK-121 catalysts under the mild conditions.