Abstract
The hydrogenation of carbon monoxide has been investigated using Rh4(CO)12 catalyst in 1-methylpyrrolidine (MPD) solvent at temperatures of 210-270°C and syngas pressures of 500-1800 kg/cm2 (H2/CO=1). The Rh4(CO)12-MPD system showed a high catalytic activity for ethylene glycol (EG) formation at a low catalyst concentration. Oxygenated compounds such as methanol (MeOH), methyl formate, ethanol (EtOH), ethylene glycol monoformate, 1-propanol, 1, 2 -propanediol (PD), and glycerol (GL) were formed as the by-p roduct. The selectivity to EG increased as the reaction pressure increased. Increasing reaction pressure increased the selectivity to GL and PD and diminished that to MeOH. Increasing reaction temperature diminished the selectivity to EG and Me0H and increased that to EtOH.
