Impact of Chemical Transformations to the Surface of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Methanol Catalyst on Lurgi Reactor Output

Methanol is the bulk feedstock for chemical industry and nowadays emerges as a suitable environmental friendly fuel. Conventional Lurgi Process of methanol producing from synthesis gas employs Cu/ZnO catalyst which, however, shows a steady deterioration of chemical and mechanical properties. This deterioration affects the production of methanol, especially during the third year of the catalyst operation. In this study, comparisons are made on the catalyst surface in order to determine the causes of the catalyst deterioration based on real industrial process condition between Sud Chemie’s fresh commercial catalyst and the second-year in operation commercial catalyst. The operating condition of the methanol synthesis based on Lurgi technology is 250°C and 30 bar [2]. The surface morphology of the catalyst was visualized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The information obtained from this research will be used to develop a model of poisoning catalyst deactivation.