Effect of carrier properties on the activity of supported KCoMoS catalysts in the synthesis of alcohol from syngas

The influence of catalyst support properties on activity of KCoMoS samples supported on commercially available carriers (Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2) was studied in the process of synthesis of alcohols from syngas in a bench-scale flow reactor. Supports and catalysts were characterized using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, temperature-programmed ammonia desorption, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was established that trimetallic KCoMoS/SiO2 and KCoMoS/Al2O3 catalysts are the most effective systems for the synthesis of alcohols from syngas and possess both high selectivity towards alcohols and the highest yields. The work provides a number of relationships between physical and chemical properties of catalyst supports and morphology of active phase species, as well as discusses possible causes of the results obtained.