| 摘要 |
A process for the production of ethylene glycol, methanol, ethanol and/or esters thereof from mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas) which comprises contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst at elevated pressure in a liquid medium, said catalyst comprising ruthenium and at least one other metal from Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and wherein the molar proportion of ruthenium is at least 50 percent relative to the other Group VIII metals. The process is particularly applicable to the selective production of ethylene glycol. The preferred catalysts, which comprise ruthenium/rhodium, may be present in elemental form, as coordination compounds or salts, e.g. carbonyls, acetyl acetonates or carboxylates. It is especially preferred to use a co-catalyst comprising a compound of one or more the metals of Groups IA, IIA or IIB or a nitrogen containing cation and/or base. Suitable liquid media include carboxylic acids (e.g. acetic acid) and ethers (e.g. tetraglyme). |
