Conversion of syngas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen) to fuels and chemical feedstocks is an important process in the utilization of non-petroleum-based carbon resources such as coal, natural gas and biomass.  Although world-scale plants for the conversion of syngas to liquid hydrocarbon fuels and methanol have been in operation for years, an efficient process to convert syngas to higher alcohols has not been developed.  In this work, supported nanoclusters of molybdenum carbide are synthesized, characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy, electron microscopy and diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy, and evaluated for activity in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons.  Promotion of the carbide clusters with Rb shifted the selectivity from hydrocarbons to higher alcohols.  Results from characterization will be used to relate the structure of the catalyst to its performance in CO hydrogenation.

Factors affecting the product selectivity during syngas conversion over molybdenum carbide nanocluster catalysts

244th National Meeting (2012)

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