Effect of secondary additives (Li, Mn) in Fe-promoted Rh/TiO2 catalysts for the synthesis of ethanol from syngas

Li and Mn have been used as secondary additives in Rh-Fe/TiO2 (Rh catalyst, TiO2 support, and Fe promoter) for the synthesis of ethanol from syngas. Introducing Li or Mn in Rh-Fe/TiO2 slightly decreased the catalytic activity but improved the ethanol selectivity. Li or Mn-added Rh-Fe/TiO2 showed high ethanol yield at high reaction temperatures because the catalytic activity increased at high reaction temperatures while the ethanol selectivity was kept at a high level.