Korean f of Chem. Eng., 10(3), 188-190(1993) NOTE METHYLFORMATE FORMATION FROM METHANOL AND CO ON Cu/ZnO CATALYSTS

Abst ract-The reaction mechanism for the methylformate formation on Cu/ZnO catalysts from methanol and CO was investigated by the labeling study with t:~C methanol, It was found that methyl-fl)rmate could be formed through two parallel reaction routes, i.e., methanol-formaldehyde reaction and carbonylation of methanol depending upon the catalyst composition as well as the reaction condi-tions. The major reaction route on the high ZnO-content catalyst (Cu/ZnO=30/70) was f~mnd to be the methanol-formaldehyde reaction, and changed to the carbonylation reaction with the increase of CO partial pressure. On the other hand, the major reaction route on the high Cu-content catalyst (Cu/ZnO =80/20) remained as methanol-[ormaldehyde reaction even under the high CO pressure. INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTAL Cu/ZnO-based catalysts have been developed for the synthesis of methanol, and modified for the syn-thesis of higher alcohols from syngas l]1-3]. In the higher alcohol synthesis on Cu/ZnO-based catalysts