Novel approaches to the production of higher alcohols from synthesis gas. Quarterly technical progress report No. 15, April 1, 1994--June 30, 1994

Under Task 2 four sets of methanol synthesis runs were conducted with BASF S3-86 ``low pressure``, Cu/ZnO methanol synthesis catalyst. The objectives were: (1) to reproduce the data obtained with this catalyst by researchers at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., and; (2) to determine whether the previously-observed problem of catalyst poisoning by metal carbonyls had been eliminated. The catalyst poisoning problem appears to be resolved, although there is a need for additional data on the capacity of activated carbon for iron and nickel carbonyl adsorption. However, under apparently comparable conditions, the activity of the BASF S3-86 catalyst in the present experiments was lower than the activity measured at Air Products. The difference tentatively has been attributed to differences in the catalyst activation procedure