Kinetic studies of methanol dehydrogenation. Part II: copper on silica-montmorillonite composite

The kinetics of methanol dehydrogenation over copper catalyst supported on silica-montmorillonite composite was studied. The samples of the catalyst were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation followed by drying, calcination and reduction in hydrogen flow in a temperature range 200-400 degrees C. Kinetic studies were performed in a flow fixed-bed reactor. Observed rate constants were determined for the reactions of methanol dehydrogenation into methyl formate and methyl formate decomposition on carbon monoxide and hydrogen. An increase in the reduction temperature was shown to have no significant effect on the catalytic properties. Numerical methods were used to calculate the kinetic constants with consideration of reversibility of methanol dehydrogenation reaction the sample reduced at 300 degrees C.