Catalysts for the production of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and water

Abstract

A method of converting low H 2 /CO ratio syngas to carbonaceous products comprising reacting the syngas with water or steam at 200° to 350° C. in the presence of a metal catalyst supported on zinc oxide. Hydrocarbons are produced with a catalyst selected from cobalt, nickel or ruthenium and alcohols are produced with a catalyst selected from palladium, platinium, ruthenium or copper on the zinc oxide support. The ratio of the reactants are such that for alcohols and saturated hydrocarbons: (2n+1)≧x≧O and for olefinic hydrocarbons: 2n≧x≧O where n is the number of carbon atoms in the product and x is the molar amount of water in the reaction mixture.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property of privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A method for the reaction of a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and water for the production of at least one carbonaceous product selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, alcohols and mixture thereof comprising contacting the reactants together in a slurry containing a catalyst suspended in a reaction inert liquid medium at a temperature of from about 200° to 350° C., the catalyst being on a zinc oxide support and being selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, palladium, platinum, iridium, rhodium, copper and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, for the production of hydrocarbons wherein the inert liquid medium with catalyst is at a temperature of 225° C. to 275° C., the catalyst on a zinc oxide support is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, ruthenium and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 for the production of saturated hydrocarbons wherein the ratio of reactants being such that:   (2n+1)≧x≧O     where n being the number of carbon atoms in the product and x being the number of moles of water in the reaction mixture.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 for the production of olefinic hydrocarbons wherein the ratio of reactants is such that:   2n≧x≧O     where n is being the number of carbon atoms in the product and x being the number of moles of water in the reaction mixture.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 for the production of alkanols wherein the inert liquid medium with catalyst is at a temperature of 225° C. to 275° C., the catalyst on zinc oxide support being selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, iridium, rhodium, copper and mixtures thereof and wherein the ratio of reactants is such that:   2n+1≧x≧O     where n being the number of carbon atoms in the product and x being the number of moles of water in the reaction mixture.