Preparation of mixed-oxide catalysts by sol-gel method for the synthesis of methanol

COLL 221

Hyun-Sik Hahm, Eun-Seok Park, Young-Kook Kim, and Hong-Soo Park. Department of Chemical Engineering, Myongji University, Nam-dong, Yongin, 449-728, South Korea
Mo-Bi-V-Al mixed oxide catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation and sol-gel methods. Methanol was directly produced by the partial oxidation of methane. All the prepared catalysts were calcined at 500 Co for 5 h. With increasing hydrolysis ratio, the particle size decreased and the surface area increased. Methanol selectivity decreased with increasing the hydrolysis ratio. The catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method showed larger surface areas than those prepared by the co-precipitation method. The highest methanol selectivity with co-precipitated catalysts was 10.8 % at 450 Co, whereas the highest methanol selectivity with sol-gel catalysts was 15.6 % at 420 Co. This shows that the catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method show higher catalytic activity than the catalysts prepared by the co-precipitation method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by various analytical instruments.