Synthesis Techniques for Improved Performance from K/Mo/Co Sulfide Mixed Alcohol Catalysts

Research over several decades by several institutions has shown that alkali-promoted metal sulfide catalysts are capable of producing mixed alcohols from syngas with high selectivity and yield. Unfortunately, process models suggest that syngas to mixed alcohol processes, and especially thermochemical biomass to mixed alcohol processes, require improvements to sulfide catalyst activity and/or selectivity for acceptable economics. These improvements, if incremental, cannot result in increased process complexity, capital expenditure, or catalyst costs. This presentation will discuss minor modifications to popular catalyst synthesis techniques that greatly impact catalyst performance, often in advantageous ways. These techniques do not impact the ability to produce K-Co/Mo sulfide catalysts at scale, and allow flexibility in the locations at which certain synthesis steps occur, creating opportunities for reduced catalyst cost.