Methanol Decomposition Over Copper/Silica: Effect of Temperature and Co-reactant on Carbon Deposition

The interaction of methanol with a copper/silica catalyst at 373 and 523K under reducing, oxidising and inert carrier gas flows has been studied. Under all conditions there is retained material associated solely with the copper. In general the retained species is adsorbed methanol/methoxy; only over an oxidised catalyst after treatment at 523K is there no evidence for adsorbed methanol/methoxy. Desorption of carbon dioxide is associated with an up-take in dioxygen indicating oxidation of a surface species, probably formate. After laydown under reducing or inert gas flow, the copper does not re-oxidise under the TPO gas flow, even at temperatures >673K indicating that material is still retained by the copper. Bulk re-oxidation of the reduced catalyst in the absence of retained species is rapid at 293K. Under oxidising conditions at 523K there is no evidence for adsorbed methanol/methoxy on the surface of the copper; in this case the retained species may be more akin to a carbonate.