To obtain methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen in extremely high activity at a low temperature under low pressure by a new method using a chromium carbonyl compound and a metal alkoxide compound as catalysts.
Carbon monoxide is reacted with hydrogen, preferably at 80-160°C under ≤50kg/cm2G pressure by using a chromium carbonyl compound (preferably chromium hexacarbonyl) and a metal alkoxide compound (preferably methoxide or ethoxide of sodium or potassium) as catalysts in the presence of a solvent containing ≥30wt.%, preferably ≥70wt.% methanol. The chromium carbonyl compound is preferably used in an amount of 0.1-10mol L based on 1L solvent and the metal alkoxide compound is preferably used in an amount of 0.5-10 times by mol based on 1mol chromium metal of the chromium carbonyl compound. A mixed ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen is preferably (1:1.5) to (1:2.5).
MATSUDA HIROKAZU
OOMATSUZAWA TAKESHI
SUGAWARA HARUSHIGE
AKAMATSU SHIHO
