Methanol synthesis on potassium modified Cu(100) from CO + H₂ and CO + CO₂ +H₂

Methanol cannot be produced from CO + H-2 on a clean copper surface, but a promotional effect of potassium on methanol synthesis from mixtures of CO + H-2 and CO = CO2 + H-2 at a total pressure of 1.5 bar on a Cu(100) surface is shown in this work. The experiments are performed in a UHV chamber connected with a high-pressure cell (HPC).

The methanol produced is measured with a gas chromatograph and the surface is characterized with surface science techniques. The results show that potassium is a promoter for the methanol synthesis from CO + H-2, and that the influence of CO2 is negligible. Investigation of the post-reaction surface with TPD indicates that potassium carbonate is present and plays an important role.

The activation energy is determined as 42 +/- 3 kJ/mol for methanol synthesis on K/Cu(100) from CO + H-2.