Claims
- 1. A method for the selective, direct preparation of ethanol which comprises contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at a temperature of from 100.degree. to 400.degree. C. and at a pressure of from 50 to 1000 bars with a catalyst comprising ruthenium and at least one other metal selected from Groups VII and VIII of the Periodic Table and a source of iodide ions in a liquid medium comprising an aprotic amide or imide or an aprotic heterocyclic compound containing an --OCO-- grouping in the ring.
- 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid medium is or includes a heterocyclic compound having a 5- to 7-membered ring containing a group of the formula:
- --NR--CO--
- wherein R represents a hydrocarbyl radical.
- 3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the heterocyclic compound is an N-alkylpyrrolidone or N-alkypiperidone.
- 4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the N-alkylpyrrolidone is N-methylpyrrolidone.
- 5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the N-methylpyrrolidone is used together with tetraglyme.
- 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid medium is or includes .gamma.-butyrolactone.
- 7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst comprises ruthenium and at least one of iron, cobalt, nickel, rhodium, palladium and manganese.
- 8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst comprises ruthenium and cobalt.
- 9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the source of halide ions is an alkali metal iodide or quaternary ammonium iodide.
- 10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the reaction temperature is in the range 175.degree.-275.degree. C.
- 11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the reaction pressure is in the range 400-1000 bars.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
8211002 |
Apr 1982 |
GBX |
|
8301005 |
Jan 1983 |
GBX |
|
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 485,455, filed Apr. 15, 1983, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0013008 |
Jul 1980 |
EPX |
0033425 |
Aug 1981 |
EPX |
2074164 |
Oct 1981 |
GBX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
485455 |
Apr 1983 |
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