Effect of operating conditions for higher alcohols synthesis from synthesis gas over alkali-modified Co-Rh-Mo trimetallic catalyst supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The effects of operating conditions on the higher alcohols synthesis reaction from synthesis gas were studied in a single-pass tubular downflow fixed-bed reactor, using sulfided K-promoted trimetallic Co-Rh-Mo catalyst supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The p CO conversion increased monotonically with increasing reaction temperature (from 275 to 350°C) and pressure (from 800 to 1400 psi), while decreasing monotonically with increasing GHSV (from 2.4 to 4.2 m3 (STP)/(kg of cat./h)). To maximize the ethanol STY and selectivity, the optimum operating conditions were determined as 330°C, 1320 psi, and 3.8 m3 (STP)/kg of cat./h). Maximum ethanol STY and selectivity were obtained using gas with H2 to CO molar ratio around 1.25. Copyright © 2011 The Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved.