Hydrogen in copper-zinc catalysts: titration and importance in the determination of the copper area

Abstract

Copper-zinc catalysts used in methanol synthesis from CO and H/sub 2/ have been studied in order to determine their behavior in presence of hydrogen. All the samples prepared by the coprecipitation process are hydrogen reservoirs. The titration method based on the hydrogenation of isoprene without gaseous hydrogen show that the catalytic performances are directly correlated with the amount of occluded hydrogen in the solids. On the other hand, oxygen chemisorption results obtained at low temperature using a dynamic method lead to correct values of the copper area if the surface hydrogen is taken into account. 31 refs.