Influences of Cu Content on the Cu/Co/Mn/Al Catalysts Derived from Hydrotalcite-Like Precursors for Higher Alcohols Synthesis via Syngas

A series of Cu/Co/Mn/Al catalysts derived from hydrotalcite precursors with different Cu/Co molar ratios (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) were prepared and used for the synthesis of higher alcohols from syngas. N2 physical adsorption desorption, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), thermogravimetry (TG), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques were employed to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the Cu/Co/Mn/Al catalysts. The results show that the optimum Cu content can increase specific surface area, improve reducibility, and form regular layered structure to provide more uniform distribution of active sites, thereby enhancing catalytic activity and alcohol selectivity. When the Cu/Co molar ratio was 0.5, the yield of alcohol and the alcohol selectivity reached the maximum values of 0.071 g·g-1·h-1 and 35.9%, respectively.