Hydrogenation catalysts comprising a mixed oxide comprising a promoter metal

Abstract

A process is disclosed for producing ethanol, comprising contacting hydrogen and a feed stream comprising acetic acid in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst comprising a binder and a mixed oxide comprising a promoter metal and tin, and preferably also comprising cobalt. The promoter metal is selected from the group consisting of rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, and combinations thereof. The feed stream may comprises pure acetic acid or may comprise a mixture of 50 to 95 wt. % acetic acid and 5 to 50 wt. % ethyl acetate.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A catalyst for producing ethanol comprising:
 a binder;   a mixed oxide comprising cobalt and tin, wherein the mixed oxide is present in an amount from 70 to 85 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst; and   a promoter metal selected from the group consisting of rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, and combinations thereof, wherein the promoter metal is present in an amount from 0.01 to 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst.   
     
     
         22 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the combined metal amount of the mixed oxide is from 50 to 70 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst. 
     
     
         23 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the mixed oxide is present in an amount of 80 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst. 
     
     
         24 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the promoter metal is selected from the group consisting of rhenium, ruthenium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the promoter metal is present in an amount from 0.05 to 3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst. 
     
     
         26 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the promoter metal is present in an amount of 1 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst. 
     
     
         27 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the promoter metal is in a reduced state. 
     
     
         28 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the total tin loading of the catalyst is from 10 to 60 wt. %, based on the metal content of the catalyst. 
     
     
         29 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the total cobalt loading of the catalyst is from 10 to 60 wt. %, based on the metal content of the catalyst. 
     
     
         30 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the catalyst has a molar ratio of cobalt to tin from 1.5:1 to 1:1. 
     
     
         31 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the mixed oxide further comprises nickel and wherein the total nickel loading of the catalyst is from 2 to 40 wt. %, based on the metal content of the catalyst. 
     
     
         32 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the catalyst is substantially free of zinc, zirconium, cadmium, copper, manganese, and molybdenum. 
     
     
         33 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of silica, aluminum oxide, and titania. 
     
     
         34 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the mixed oxide is anhydrous. 
     
     
         35 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the surface area of the catalyst is from 100 to 250 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         36 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the pore volume of the catalyst is between 0.18 and 0.35 mL/g. 
     
     
         37 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the pore diameters of the catalyst is from 6 to 8 nm. 
     
     
         38 . The catalyst of  claim 21 , wherein the morphology of the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of pellets, extrudates, spheres, spray dried microspheres, rings, pentarings, trilobes, quadrilobes, multi-lobal shapes, and flakes.