Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2016, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (3): 378-388.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(15)61032-4

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Effect of Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 supported on H-ferrierite on hydrocarbons formation from CO hydrogenation

J. H. Floresa, M. E. H. Maia da Costab, M. I. Pais da Silvaa   

  1. a Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, 22453-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil;
    b Departamento de Física, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, 22453-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
  • Received:2015-10-29 Revised:2015-12-09 Online:2016-02-29 Published:2016-02-29
  • Contact: M. I. Pais da Silva
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by CAPES.

Abstract:

Methanol synthesis catalysts based on Cu, Zn and Al were prepared by three methods and subsequently mixed with H-ferrierite zeolite in an aqueous suspension to disperse the catalysts over the support. These materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, transmission electron microscopy, temperature programmed reduction, NH3 and H2 temperature-programmed desorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. They were also applied to the CO hydrogenation reaction to produce dimethyl ether and hydrocarbons. The catalysts were prepared by coprecipitation under low and high supersaturation conditions and by a homogeneous precipitation method. The preparation technique was found to affect the precursor structural characteristics, such as purity and crystallinity, as well as the particle size distribution of the resulting catalyst. Low supersaturation conditions favored high dispersion of the Cu species, increasing the methanol synthesis catalyst's metallic surface area and resulting in a homogeneous particle size distribution. These effects in turn were found to modify the zeolite properties, promoting both a low micropore volume and blockage of the zeolite acid sites. The effect of the methanol synthesis catalyst on the reaction was verified by the correlation between the Cu surface area and the CO conversion rate.

Key words: Methanol synthesis catalyst, Low supersaturation precipitation, High supersaturation precipitation, Syngas, Hydrotalcite, Hydrocarbon, Dimethyl ether