EFFECT OF METAL DISPERSION ON THE ACTIVITY AND SELECTIVITY OF Rh/SiO2 CATALYST FOR HIGH PRESSURE CO HYDROGENATION

Abstract Metal dispersion has a striking influence on the activity and selectivity of Rh/SiO2 for high pressure CO hydrogenation. Decreasing dispersion, turnover frequency of CO conversion does not change significantly with dispersion up to 0.5 but increases abruptly at dispersion of 0.45. CH3OH is produced selectively at high dispersion. C2-oxygenated compounds are produced favorably for dispersion of 0.25–0.45. CH4 formation increases monotonously with decrease of dispersion.