Preparation of higher alcohols by biomass-based syngas from wheat straw over CoCuK/ZrO2-SiO2 catalyst

A mesoporous composite CoCuK/ZrO2-SiO2 catalyst with high activity and long life was prepared by vacuum impregnation and multisolvent self-assembly. The catalytic activity of the mesoporous catalyst was investigated for the synthesis of ethanol and higher alcohols from biomass syngas from wheat straw. The catalyst was characterized by small-angle X-ray diffraction, power XRD, N2 adsorption and desorption experiments (BET), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects on the reaction activity and products from the addition of alkali metal promoter K, the modification of ZrO2 and different copper/cobalt compositions were analyzed. The life of the catalyst was determined using a pressurized fixed-bed reactor. The results show that the catalyst possesses the high CO hydrogenation activity, high C2+OH selectivity and high life expectancy needed to meet industrial applications.