Dehydrogenation of methanol over copper-containing catalysts

A comparative study of copper-containing catalysts with different chemical and phase compositions is performed to determine conditions for the implementation of the vapor phase and highly selective dehydrogenation of methanol to methyl formate or syngas. A thermodynamic analysis of the reaction is also performed. It is shown that Cu0 nanoparticles formed in the course of reductive activation reveal different selectivities with respect to the formation of methyl formate from methanol or its dehydrogenation with formation of syngas. By correctly selecting the catalyst composition and process conditions, high (90–100%) selectivity with respect to either methyl formate or syngas can be attained. Catalysts based on Cu–Zn hydrosilicate of the zincsilite type and on CuAlZn aurichalcite are highly selective in the process of methyl formate formation. An estimation based on experimental data shows that the productivity of Cu/SiO2 catalyst, the one most effective in dehydrogenation to syngas, is as high as 20 m3/h of syngas at a methanol vapor pressure of 1 atm, a temperature of 200°C, and a contact time of 0.5 s.