Isobutanol synthesis catalyst

US5707920A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Exxon Research and Engineering Company · US

Inventors

• Thomas Henry Vanderspurt · Glastonbury, US
• Mark A. Greaney · Upper Black Eddy, US
• Daniel P. Leta · Flemington, US
• Russell John Koveal · Baton Rouge, US
• Mark Michael Disko · High Bridge, US
• Angela Klaus · Highland Park, US
• Sutinder K. Behal · Somerville, US
• Robert B. Harris · Billings, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 8, 1995
• Grant date: Jan 13, 1998
• Expiry date: Dec 8, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/52
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a catalyst for conversion of methanol, ethanol alone or in combination with n-propanol to isobutanol. The catalyst is a noble metal supported on at least a first phase having poorly crystalline manganese and zinc doped zirconium oxide phase containing about 71 to about 91 atomic % zirconium, about 10 to about 16 atomic % manganese and about 4 to about 8 atomic % zinc and a second phase of irregularly shaped hetaerolite-like crystals containing about 65 to about 69 atomic % manganese, about 31 to about 35 atomic % zinc and zero to about 5 atomic % zirconium embedded in the first phase. The catalyst is useful in making isobutanol.