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CO 2 ‐Promoted Catalytic Process Forming Higher Alcohols with Tunable Nature at Record Productivity
Author(s) -
Luk Ho Ting,
Novak Gabrijel,
Safonova Olga V.,
Siol Sebastian,
Stewart Joseph A.,
Curulla Ferré Daniel,
Mondelli Cecilia,
PérezRamírez Javier
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.202000059
Subject(s) - catalysis , syngas , methanol , chemistry , copper , zeolite , hydrocarbon , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Converting syngas obtained from renewable or abundant feedstocks into higher alcohols (HA) is a potentially more sustainable route to these important chemicals and fuels than industrial technologies, but lacks a performing catalytic process to reach commercialization. Here, we show that moderate CO 2 amounts ( R =CO 2 /(CO+CO 2 )=0.12) in the feed raise the HA productivity over copper‐iron catalysts carried on carbon nanofibers and promoted by potassium to a 3‐fold higher level than the state of the art. CO 2 promotes copper dispersion and thus the formation of activated CO species, as in traditional methanol synthesis. Still, since its vicinity to iron is boosted, CO insertion into growing hydrocarbon chains prevails on hydrogenation, translating positive effects to HA production. Cascade zeolite‐catalyzed upgrading of methanol and olefins byproducts generates a breakthrough process forming 2.42 g HA h −1 g cat −1 , which is 4‐times superior to the best systems, and tuning the HA nature based on the aluminosilicate topology.