Effect of support for alcohol-hydrocarbon synthesis from syngas in Cu-based catalyst

Effects of a Cu-based catalyst on the catalytic performance in alcohol-hydrocarbon synthesis from syngas have been investigated, using various supports. Under the different porosities of three supports (zinc oxide, activation carbon, and titanium dioxide), whereas Cu/ZnO produces one liquid phase of major mixed alcohols, Cu/AC and Cu/TiO₂ create two phases, alcohol (～75%) and hydrocarbon (～25%). X-ray diffraction shows that CuO impregnated on supports undergoes a complete reduction of metallic copper Cu⁰, which is the real active phase in the catalytic process. The Cu/TiO₂ catalyst showed the highest ethanol composition in a mixed alcohol phase under GHSV 18,000 h^?1, 30 bar, and 300 °C.