METHANOL OXIDATION OVER NONPRECIOUS TRANSITION-METAL OXIDE CATALYSTS

Methanol oxidation over nonprecious transition metal oxide catalysts was studied in a gradientless external recycle reactor. The catalysts (oxides of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu), which were prepared by using the incipient wetness technique, were supported on 1/8-in. ?-Al2O3 tablets. The catalysts were characterized by using BET surface area measurement, X-ray diffraction, laser Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis techniques. All the catalysts exhibited similar activities for methanol conversion, but the Cu catalyst was found to be considerably more selective to CO2 The order of the reaction was 1.2 with respect to methanol concentration and appeared to range between 0.5 and 0 with respect to oxygen concentration. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.