METHYL FORMATE HYDROGENOLYSIS FOR LOW-TEMPERATURE METHANOL SYNTHESIS

The hydrogenolysis of methyl formate to methanol was studied in a liquid-phase reactor using a heterogeneous copper catalyst. This reaction is part of a process to produce methanol from synthesis gas starting with the carbonylation of methanol to methyl formate. Raney copper was compared with copper-chromite for hydrogenolysis activity at 110 to 160-degrees-C. The inhibition of the hydrogenolysis reaction by carbon monoxide was found to be lower at higher temperatures. A rate equation was derived to include this temperature dependence. Also, carbon monoxide made by a side reaction, the decarbonylation of methyl formate, was carefully measured and shown to account for only 1 to 2% of the total methanol produced at these temperatures.