Novel Anion Exchange Resin-based Catalyst for Liquid-phase Methanol Synthesis at 373–393 K

A thermo-stable anion exchange resin–Raney Cu system was found as the most effective solid catalyst for low-temperature liquid-phase methanol synthesis at 373 to 393 K under 5.0 MPa of syngas (2H2/CO). With the catalyst (20 mL of the resin and 2.0 g of Cu) suspended in methanol solution 72% of CO was converted to methanol (70%) and methyl formate (HCOOCH3) (30%) in 4 h.