Can a passivated methanol catalyst still be used?
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Can a passivated methanol catalyst still be used? A company’s 100,000-ton methanol plant was shut down after one month of operation due to a leak in the synthesis tower. A year later, the new synthesis tower was manufactured. To use the original methanol catalyst, processes such as passivation, removal, screening, loading, and reduction had to be carried out first. Please discuss whether these catalysts can be utilized
Some say it cannot be utilized because the structure of the catalyst, after reduction, passivation, and re-reduction, has changed, losing its original activity and selectivity.
Generally, no. Clariant explained that excessive heat is released during passivation, which can cause the catalyst to sinter, and the specific surface area of copper decreases rapidly. The specific surface area of the copper in the catalyst after passivation and reduction can be measured using TPSR, and nitrous oxide should be used for this measurement.
It still needs to be tested; challenges are for those who dare!
It’s been passivated and is now being activated; it should work!
Who knows the actual situation, which company has done it?
For reuse, during passivation: the hourly temperature rise at the exit of the synthesis tower must be less than 5℃
It won’t work; the activity level is too low. Generally, one pass of passivation is enough to get it done
Is nitrous oxide detection activity now a standard testing method? Do catalyst manufacturers use it for routine characterization?
The catalyst has not been used to its end; after passivation, it can still be reduced. Its effectiveness in reactions is unknown, but it can still be used
Yes, methanol can still be produced, but the quantity and quality cannot be guaranteed.