PURPOSE: To obtain the objective compound selectively, by adding acetic acid and/or its ester to the reaction system for the production of an alcohol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst containing a ruthenium compound and a halogen compound.
CONSTITUTION: A catalyst composed mainly of a ruthenium compound and a halogen compound is made to contact with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at a molar ratio of usually 1:10W10:1, especially 1:3W2:1 at a high temperature (160W300°C, especially 180W260°C) under high pressure (150W800kg/cm2, especially 300W500kg/cm2) to effect the direct synthesis of methanol or ethanol. In the above process, the reaction system is supplied with acetic acid, an acetic acid ester and/or an acetic acid salt to decrease the net production of acetic acid preferably to zero by adjusting the feeding rate of acetic acid, etc. The selectivity of the objective compound can be improved thereby. Since the acetic acid or its ester, etc., can be recovered and reused, the process has industrial advantage.
ONO HIROSHI
IWASAKI MASAO
TOKUMOTO SHUICHI
YOSHIDA KENJI
| JPS60166633A | 1985-08-29 | |||
| JPS5782328A | 1982-05-22 |