Ni/ADM:: a high activity and selectivity to C2+OH catalyst for catalytic conversion of synthesis gas to C1-C5 mixed alcohols

In the present paper alkali-doped molybdenum sulfide (ADM) catalysts modified by Ni were prepared and Ni promoter showed an effective promotion on the activity and C2+OH selectivity. At Ni:Mo molar ratio of 0.5, the percentage of methanol decreased sharply from 53(C-atom)% to 11(C-atom)% and the ratio of C2+OH/C1OH reached the maximum (8.75), which was about 10 times compared with that of traditional ADM catalyst (0.87). Calculation revealed that the additions of Ni caused the apparent activation energies for C1-3 alcohols decreased, especially for ethanol. The great deviation of methanol from the linear A-S-F distribution indicated a different reaction route Which Might caused by the bi-functionality of nickel, namely. the formation of corresponding precursor of alcohol (CHx) and the strong ability of CO insertion. Characterization suggested that such a promotion was closely related to the structure of nickel of the catalyst, the simultaneous presences of aggregrated particles and high-dispersed Ni.