Catalysis in C1 chemistry; Future and prospectC1化学中的催化作用.pdf

Catalysis Letters 22 (I 993) 67-91 67
Catalysis in C1 chemistry: future and prospect
. Fierro
Instituto de Catdlisisy Petroleoqufmica, CSIC, Campus UAM, Cantoblanco,
28049 Madrid, Spain
This work summarizes the most relevant facets of the current knowledge of the principal
catalytic processes involved in one carbon-atom conversions. Without doubt, natural gas (or
methane) chemical conversion into high molecular weight hydrocarbons via oxidative coupling
(OCM) or partial oxidation into C1 oxygenates (POM) currently represents a great chemical
and technological challenge for petrochemistry. Although the catalyst systems and the basic
principles of the two types of processes are well known, a greater effort is needed towards the
development of more efficient and stable catalysts under the severe operation conditions
imposed by the reaction itself, as well as the need for suitable reaction design to minimize the
extent of the homogeneous reaction. The alternative process is to obtain synthesis gas (CO/H2)
in a first step through steam reforming followed by a second Fischer-Tropsch hydrogenation
step. However, the unfavorable energeticbalance of the reforming step and the absence of selec-
tive catalysts in the latter to obtain a narrow molecular weight distribution currently leads to
compromise in solutions. Among these, the high molecular weight alcohol synthesis and the
recently developed Shell middle distillate synthesis (SMDS) appear to be very attractive. Of no
less importance are the reactions which incorporate a CO molecule into alcohols or olefins via
carbonylations and hydroformylafions. Within this framework, the use of organometallic com-
plexes anchored to funcfionalized polymeric matrices