Kinetic Characterisation of Catalysts for Methanol Synthesis

Abstract

The results of activity studies of four catalysts in methanol synthesis have been presented. A standard industrial catalyst TMC-3/1 was compared with two methanol catalysts promoted by the addition of magnesium and one promoted by zirconium. The kinetic analysis of the experimental results shows that the Cu/Zn/Al/Mg/1 catalyst was the least active. Although TMC-3/1 and Cu/Zn/Al/Mg/2 catalysts were characterised by a higher activity, the most active catalyst system was Cu/Zn/Al/Zr. The activity calculated for zirconium doped catalyst under operating conditions was approximately 30% higher that of TMC-3/1catalyst. The experimental data were used to identify the rate equations of two types -one purely empirical power rate equation and the other one -the Vanden Bussche & Froment kinetic model of methanol synthesis. The Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst modified with zirconium has the highest application potential in methanol synthesis.

Present and Future Perspectives of Liquid-Phase Slurry Processes Involved in Methanol and Dimethyl Ether Synthesis Using Biomass-Derived Syngas

“…Cleaning of syngas up to this level is not uncommon but is an expensive process. At present, methanol using coal- or biomass-derived syngas (on the basis of CO or CO 2 hydrogenation) is commercially produced using a combination of CuO–ZnO–Al 2 O 3 popularly known as CZA , or a methanol synthesis catalyst with alcohol as a catalytic solvent …”

Simultaneous Synthesis and Oxidation of Methanol to Formaldehyde, Thermally Coupled with Cyclohexane Dehydrogenation in a Trifunctional Reactor

“…Subsequently, in the 1960s, ICI (Imperial Chemical Industry) suggested the catalyst of CuO/ZnO, allowing for lower operating temperature and pressure. Nowadays, the commercial catalyst for the methanol synthesis process is CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 . , Many studies have investigated the reactions taking place in the methanol production process over this catalyst. The main three reactions are: hydrogenation of CO and CO 2 to methanol, and reverse water gas reaction.…”

“…Nowadays, the commercial catalyst for the methanol synthesis process is CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 . 17,43 Many studies have investigated the reactions taking place in the methanol production process over this catalyst. The main three reactions are: hydrogenation of CO and CO 2 to methanol, and reverse water gas reaction.…”

“…It can be used as an environmentally friendly fuel, a hydrogen carrier, or the reactant for production of other useful chemical compounds . The annual production of methanol had been almost doubled from 2007 to 2012, and is expected to continue this increasing trend. − Commercial methanol production plants operate at the pressure of 5–10 MPa, and temperature of 493–573 K over the CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. , Given the exothermic nature of the reaction, a cooling method such as applying a heat exchanger reactor, an interior heat exchanger, , or a thermally coupled reactor, , should be used to avoid extremely high temperatures in the reactor.…”

“…12−16 Commercial methanol production plants operate at the pressure of 5−10 MPa, and temperature of 493−573 K over the CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. 17,18 Given the exothermic nature of the reaction, a cooling method such as applying a heat exchanger reactor, 19 an interior heat exchanger, 20,21 or a thermally coupled reactor, 22,23 should be used to avoid extremely high temperatures in the reactor.…”