Selective kinetic deactivation model for methanol synthesis from simultaneous reaction of CO2 and CO with H2 on a commercial copper/zinc oxide catalyst

A kinetic model for the deactivation of copper/zinc oxide catalyst during the methanol synthesis has been developed. This model is of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson type and considers two types of active sites for the deactivation of catalyst. One of the site types on copper is allocated for the deactivation of the catalyst due to carbon dioxide while another type is assigned for the deactivation of the catalyst due to carbon monoxide. The parameters of the deactivation rate equations based on the above concept have been determined using the experimental data of Hoffmann (1993). The validity of the deactivation model has been checked by comparing the results predicted by the model with experimental data different than of those used to evaluate the parameters of the model. The good agreement that noticed in this comparison confirmed the idea that CO and CO₂ are responsible at different extent for the deactivation of Cu/ZnO catalyst during methanol synthesis.