The synthesis of alcohols using Cu/ZnO/A1₂O₃ + (Ce or Mn) catalysts

Cu/ZnO/A1₂O₃ catalysts modified by compounds of manganese or cerium were prepared by coprecipitation or by impregnation and were tested for the synthesis of alcohol mixtures from synthesis gas at pressures of up to 70 bar. They were also examined by XPS both before and after the reaction. With both the impregnated and the coprecipitated catalysts, manganese increased the selectivity to higher alcohols (mainly isobutanol). However, in the case of cerium, the location of the cerium ions appeared to determine the selectivity; it shifted towards alkanes and C0₂ when cerium was present at the surface of the catalyst (probably as Ce0₂), but to isobutanol when the cerium ions were present in the bulk. Changes were found in the selectivities of the catalyst doped with cerium with time on stream and these could be explained by a segregation of the cerium ions to the surface. Some of the mechanistic steps in the formation of higher alcohols as proposed in the literature were confirmed.