Effect of the source of Cu and Zn on the ethanol synthesis from syngas over CuZnAl catalyst

CuZnAl catalysts were prepared using different sources of copper and zinc through complete liquid-phase technology. The catalytic performances for the ethanol synthesis from syngas were investigated in a slurry phase reactor. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, H₂-TPR, NH₃-TPD-MS and BET technology. The results suggest that replacing copper nitrate with copper acetate would restrain the reduction of Cu₂O in the heat treatment and raise the surface areas of the catalysts. It also provides suitable acid sites and pore sizes for higher ethanol selectivity. The selectivity of total alcohols reaches 45.6% and the ethanol selectivity accounts for 28.7%.