CATALYST PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION AND ITS USE IN THE CONVERSION OF SYNGAS TO METHANOL

摘要

A catalyst precursor for use after reductive activation in the conversion of synthesis gas to methanol having the formula: CuaThAbOx wherein A is an alkali metal, a is from 0.1 to 4, b is from 0 to 0.5, and x is a number such that the valence requirements of the other elements for oxygen is satisfied, is prepared by the steps of (I) precipitating at a temperature below 50 DEG C the metals copper and thorium in the form of insoluble thermally decomposable compounds thereof using a precipitant comprising a carbonate and/or bicarbonate of an alkali metal and/or ammonium, the pH being adjusted to a final value in the range from 5.0 to 7.0 (II) recovering the precipitate obtained in step (I), and (III) thermally decomposing thermally decomposable compounds comprised in the precipitate recovered in step (II), the maximum temperature utilised in the thermal decomposition being in the range from 300 to 600 DEG C. Also a catalyst composition of formula Cua.ThO2 wherein a is from 0.1 to 4 and wherein at least 30% of the elemental copper particles are of a size less than or equal to 20 Angstroms.