Influence of the support and promotion on the structure and catalytic performance of copper–cobalt catalysts for carbon monoxide hydrogenation

This paper focuses on the effect of support and promotion on the structure and catalytic performance of copper–cobalt catalysts for carbon monoxide hydrogenation. Cu–Co catalysts supported by alumina, silica and carbon nanotubes were prepared by co-incipient-wetness impregnation and are compared with CuCoAl catalyst prepared by coprecipitation. Alumina supported catalysts exhibited much higher alcohol selectivity than their counterparts. This phenomenon was attributed to higher metal dispersion and formation of copper cobalt bimetallic species in alumina supported catalysts which seem to be active in this reaction. Addition of promoter (K, Mg, Zr, and Fe) to alumina supported copper–cobalt catalysts results in a slight modification of metal dispersion, reducibility and catalyst basicity. The alcohol selectivity was improved by promotion of the supported Cu–Co catalysts with small amounts of Fe and Zr but depressed by K and Mg.