Regularities of Copper-Based Efficient Methanol Synthesis Catalysts Formation
The regularities of the formation of the composition and structure of a highly efficient catalyst for methanol synthesis have been revealed. The catalyst is obtained by thermal treatment of the combined hydroxycarbonate CuZnAl(Cr) following by the reductive activation of the oxide-precursor – anion-modified (a. m.) zinc oxide. The nature and the components ratio determine the composition and the structure of hydroxocarbonate. In the course of the thermal decomposition of hydroxycarbonates at 550–650 K, an oxide catalyst is formed, while at a higher temperature - an inactive mixture of oxides. The oxide catalyst is a mixed zinc oxide containing cations Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Al or Cr<sup>3+</sup> and the residual anions (СО<sub>3</sub>)<sup>2–</sup> and ОН<sup>–</sup>, i.e. the anion-modified oxide.