Isobutanol from synthesis gas

A highly active and selective Zr-Zn-Mn-Li-Pd catalyst for the one-step synthesis of 2-methyl-1-propanol (isobutanol) from synthesis gas is described. This catalyst produces 60 wt% isobutanol at a rate of 740 g isobutanol per liter catalyst and hour. The catalyst was optimized by a statistical method indicating that during catalyst preparation pH and temperature control are essential.Abbreviations GHSV gas hourly, space velocity defined as volume incoming syngas/volume catalyst and hour at standard conditions - MTBE methyl tert. butyl ether