Effect of the Nature of the Catalyst on Catalytic Activity and Selectivity in the Formaldehyde Hydrogenation

The effect the nature of the carrier and supported metal on the activity and selectivity of the catalyst in the reaction of formaldehyde hydrogenation to methanol is studied. The formation of such oxygenates as ethanol, formic acid, and diethyl formal is observed. It is found that ethanol forms on Fe-containing alloyed catalyst, while formic acid forms on the catalysts containing Au. Thermodynamic calculations are performed for a series of side reactions that confirm the formation of the resulting oxygenates.