Structural change by milling in a mixture of CuO and Cr_2O_3 as a catalyst for low-temperature methanol synthesis via methylformate

摘要

Low-temperature methanol synthesis via methyl formate was carried out in a liuqid medium at 373 K and an initial pressur eof 5 MPa using alkali alkoxide and a physical mxture of CuO and Cr_2O_3 as a catalyst.Methanol productivity was enhanced with prolonged milling of the mixture.Characterization of hte mixtures by physical adsorption of N_2,X-ray diffraction (XRD),transmission electron microscopy with elemental analysis (TEM/EDX) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) suggested that long-term milling brought about intimate contact of fine grains of CuO and Cr_2O_3, and lattice disorder in the crystals,especially in CuO crystalites,both of which contribute to an increase in catalytic activity.