KINETICS OF METHANOL SYNTHESIS OVER COMMERCIAL COPPER-ZINC OXIDE ALUMINA CATALYSTS

Kinetics of the low-pressure methanol synthesis over Polish commercial catalyst CuO (60% wt)-ZnO (30%)-Al2O3 (7.5%) was investigated. The range of parameters applied was wide, especially concerning inlet concentrations of reactants: chi-H2(0) (10-80% mol), chi-CO2(0) (3-40% mol), chi-CO(0) (0-20% mol). It was found that methanol synthesis occurs from CO2 rather than from CO and that the basic reactions are: CO2 + 3H2 reversible CH3OH + H2O and CO2 + H-2 reversible CO + H2O. Dependence of the reaction rates on initial concentrations of CO2 and H-2 was given by the functions with characteristic maxima. Langmuir-Hinshelwood type kinetic equations were determined.