Cu/Cr2O3•3Al2O3 and Au-Cu/Cr2O3•3Al2O3 catalysts for methanol synthesis and water gas shift reactions

A comparative study of the physicochemical properties of Cu/Cr2O3 center dot 3Al(2)O(3) and Au-Cu/Cr2O3 center dot 3Al(2)O(3) supported catalysts and their catalytic activity in methanol synthesis and water gas shift reactions were the main subject of this study. The promotion effect of gold addition to Cu/support catalysts in the methanol synthesis reaction was proved. The formation of an Au-Cu alloy was confirmed by XRD technique. Methanol selectivity increased after gold introduction onto the catalyst surface, which can be explained by the creation of nucleation centers for copper crystallization by metallic gold particles during catalyst reduction.