Process for producing alcohols from synthesis gas

• US 4,882,360 A
• Filed: 06/06/1988
• Issued: 11/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Rex R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARS, HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US07/202,755
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 518/714
• US Class Current: 518/714
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/85 Chromium, molybdenum or tungsten
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/156 containing iron group metals, platinum group metals or compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/04 Methanol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/08 Ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/10 containing three carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/12 containing four carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/125 containing five to twenty-two carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts

Abstract

A process for making alcohols comprising contacting a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst comprising:

(1) as a first component, at least one element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten in free or combined form;

(2) as a second component, at least one element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and nickel in free or combined form;

(3) as a third component, a promoter comprising an alkali or alkaline earth element in free or combined form; and optionally

(4) as a fourth component, a support;

to form an alcohol fraction boiling in the range of motor gasoline in at least 20 percent CO₂ free carbon selectivity.

Claims

1. A process for making alcohols comprising contacting a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst comprising:

(1) as a first component, molybdenum sulfide;

(2) as a second component, iron sulfide;

(3) as a third component, a promoter comprising an alkali or alkaline earth element in free or combined form,

said catalyst excluding rhodium, copper and ruthenium;

at a pressure of at least about 500 psig and at conditions sufficient to form an alcohol fraction boiling in the range of motor gasoline in at least 50 percent CO₂ free carbon selectivity, said alcohol fraction containing a C₁ to C_2-5 alcohol weight ratio of less than about 1;

1.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide contains a molar ratio of H₂ /CO of less than about 2:

1.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the alcohol fraction contains a C₁ to C₂ -C₅ alcohol weight ratio of less than about 0.8:

1.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the alcohol fraction contains a C₁ to C₂ -C₅ alcohol weight ratio of less than about 0.5:

1.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the atomic ratio of the first component to the second component is from about 1:

4 to about 4;

1.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the atomic ratio of the first component is from about 3:

1 to about 1;

1.

7. The process of claim 6 where in the first and second components are present as coprecipitated sulfides.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein a ratio of methanol to C₂ -C₅ alcohols is lower than a process in which all the conditions are the same except that the catalyst does not contain the second component.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein chromium, manganese and zinc are excluded from the catalyst.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein halogen, titanium, vanadium, cerium, thorium, uranium, iridium, palladium, platinum, silver and cadmium are excluded from the catalyst.