Methanol synthesis reduction

Its appeal Hes in the fact that synthesis gas can be produced from trash, municipal sewage, scrap wood, sawdust, newsprint, or other waste. The early work of Fischer and Tropsch on methanol synthesis showed that ethanol could be obtained in the process (165) and that by certain modifications the proportion of ethanol in the product could be increased (166). The Hterature concerning this method is extensive (167—176). The conditions that favor ethanol formation are 125—175°C and 1.42 MPa (14 atm) in the presence of reduction catalysts such as powdered iron. 

The influence of Zn-deposition on Cu(lll) surfaces on methanol synthesis by hydrogenation of CO2 shows that Zn creates sites stabilizing the formate intermediate and thus promotes the hydrogenation process [2.44]. Further publications deal with methane oxidation by various layered rock-salt-type oxides [2.45], poisoning of vana-dia in VOx/Ti02 by K2O, leading to lower reduction capability of the vanadia, because of the formation of [2.46], and interaction of SO2 with Cu, CU2O, and CuO to show the temperature-dependence of SO2 absorption or sulfide formation [2.47]. 

Special attention was paid to the detection of residual Cu-fl quantities accompanying the metallic Cu. The relative amounts of Cu+1 and Cu were determined by curve-fitting the Cu (LMM) spectra using the Physical Electronics Version 6 curve-fitting program. The catalyst showed reduction of Cu+2 Into a mixture of Cu+1 and Cu after reduction In H2 at 250 C for one hour (Figure 6) as evidenced by the two resolved peaks In the Cu (LMM) spectrum at 568.0 and 570.3 eV which are characteristic of Cu and Cu+1, respectively, and by the disappearance of the Cu+2 2p satellite structure. It could be shown that less than 2%, If any, of the total Cu could be present In the +1 oxidation state during methanol formation. However, when the catalyst was briefly exposed to air (1 minute), a few percent of Cu+1 readily formed (7). Thus, any kind of oxidation environment has to be avoided between methanol synthesis and catalyst analysis. Otherwise, appreciable amounts of Cu+1 will be detected. 

Figure 6.20 Quick EXAFS and XRD measurements recorded during the temperature programmed reduction of copper in a Cu/Zn0/Al203 methanol synthesis catalyst. The disappearance and appearance of peaks with increasing temperature in the series of EXAFS spectra corresponds to the conversion of oxidic to metallic copper. The intensity of the relatively sharp peak around 9040 eV, indicative of Cu metal, clearly illustrates the kinetics of the reduction process, as does the intensity of the (111) reflection of Cu metal in the XRD spectra (adapted from Clausen 44J).

Edwards and Schrader—IR investigations support common formate intermediate in water-gas shift and methanol synthesis over Cu/ZnO. Edwards and Schrader,234 using careful reduction procedures (95%N2/5%H2), were able to obtain direct evidence by infrared spectroscopy of the formation of active OH groups on Cu/ZnO, that formed surface formates on the surface of the zinc phase (1576, 1381, 1366, 2970, and 2878 cm-1, respectively for OCO asymmetric, OCO symmetric, and C-H stretching bands) upon exposure to CO. In the presence of CO and H20, the formate intensity initially increased, followed by the production of C02, indicative of water-gas shift. A carbonyl band was also observed at 2093 cm-1. The authors... 

Reductive Carbonylation of Methanol. The reductive carbonylation of methanol (solvent free) was studied at variable I/Co, PPh,/I, temperature, pressure, synthesis gas ratio and methanol conversion (gas uptake) in the batch reactor, A summary of the results is given in Table I. In general, the acetaldehyde rate and selectivity increase with increasing I/Co. The PPh /I ratio has little effect except in run //7 where the rate is drastically reduced at I/Co =3.5 and PPh /I r 2. A good set of conditions is I/Co =3 5 and PPh /I = 1,T where the acetaldehyde rate and selectivity is 7.6 M/nr and 765 at 170 °C and 5000 psig. The effect of methanol conversion at these conditions is obtained by compearing runs 13, 1, 14, and 15. The gas uptake was varied from 14000 to 4000 psi, which corresponds to observed methanol conversions of 68% to 38 te. 

Unpromoted Cu/Si02 is found to have a low activity for methanol synthesis from H2/CO mixtures, whereas an increased activity from H2/CO2. Alkali metal promotion increases the activity for methanol synthesis from the H2/CO mixtures, probably due to the increase in surface OH groups engaged in the formation of the formate species which are the precursors to the methanol. Cu/Si02 powder catalysts (with 5 wt% Cu) can be prepared by ion exchange of silica with Cu(NOs)2 in aqueous solution, followed by calcination and reduction. Such preparations contain very fine Cu particles ( 0.5 nm) on a powdered silica support as revealed by HRTEM. 

Fio. 6. Three-dimensional representation of in situ XRD patterns recorded during reduction of a Cu/ZnO methanol synthesis catalyst. The collection time per diagram was 60 s [adapted from Clausen et at. (32)]. 

Fig. 8. Piezo-QEXAFS spectra at the Cu K-edge recorded during reduction of a Cu/ Zn0/Al203 methanol synthesis catalyst. The recording time was 50 ms/scan, and only every 40th scan is shown (51).

Because of the pure performance of traditional Cu catalysts in the hydrogenation of C02, efforts have been made to find new, more effective catalysts for direct C02 hydrogenation. The problem is to improve selectivity, specifically, to find catalysts that display high selectivity toward methanol formation and, at the same time, show low selectivity in the reverse water-gas shift reaction, that is, in the formation of CO. It appears that copper is the metal of choice for methanol synthesis from C02 provided suitable promoters may be added. Special synthesis methods have also been described for the preparation of traditional three-component Cu catalysts (Cu-ZnO-A1203 and Cu-Zn0-Cr203) to improve catalytic performance for C02 reduction. 

In a new study of a series of binary Cu-ZnO catalysts a correlation was found between methanol synthesis activity and strain in the Cu metal phase.619 Structural defects of Cu resulting from ZnO dissolved in Cu, incomplete reduction, or epitaxial orientation to ZnO are believed to bring about strain, which modifies the Cu surface and, consequently, affects the catalytic activity. The higher amount of water formed in methanol synthesis from a C02-rich feed compared to a CO-rich feed brings about significant catalyst deactivation by inducing crystallization of both Cu and ZnO.620... 

Oxidative methanolysis of azetidinone 176 followed by hydrogenolysis of compound 177 afforded /3-lactam 178, which was protected to obtain the protected amine 179. The best conditions for rearrangement of 179 were found using TFA. Conversion of compound 180 to carbacephem 183 was accomplished by ketone reduction, alcohol protection, and elimination of methanol. Synthesis of carbacephem derivative 186 has been performed by rhodium(n)-catalyzed cycliza-tion of iodonium ylide 185 <1997TL6981> (Scheme 33). The iodonium ylide 185 was easily prepared from the corresponding /3-keto ester 184 and [(diacetoxy)iodo]benzene in good yield. 

Fig. 6.17 Quick EXAFS and XRD measurements recorded during the temperature-programmed reduction of copper in a Cu/ZnO/AbOs methanol synthesis catalyst. The disappearance and appearance of peaks with increasing temperature in the series of EXAFS spectra corresponds to the conversion...

---