Complete Liquid-Phase Preparation of CuFe-Based Catalysts and Their Application in the Synthesis of Higher Alcohols from Syngas

CuFe-based catalysts with different Cu/Fe molar ratios were prepared by the complete liquid-phase method and applied in the synthesis of higher alcohols from syngas in a slurry bed reactor. The characterization results demonstrated that the CuFe-based catalysts existed CuFe alloy and CuFe2O4. The molar ratio of Cu/Fe had an obvious effect on the synergistic interaction of CuFe bimetallic and its performance. The CuFe-based catalyst with Cu/Fe molar ratio of 2 (Cu2Fe1) was the best catalyst, which showed better dispersibility and intimate contact between bimetal, and more spinel on the metal surface. The activity evaluation results exhibited that low temperature and low pressure were favorable for the formation of higher alcohols. The total alcohols selectivity was 46.87% and the higher alcohols mass fraction in total alcohols was 83.44% at 493 K and 3 MPa. This work may provide a novel method in preparing a highly efficient catalyst for higher alcohols synthesis from syngas under milder reaction conditions.