| abstract |
Mixtures of methanol and higher alcohols to be used in particular as fuels, either alone or in admixture with petrol, are produced by reacting H2 and CO, possibly in the presence of CO2, in a molar ratio H2:CO of from 0.1:1 to 20:1, preferably from 0.5:1 to 5:1, at a temperature of from 300 to 500 DEG C, preferably from 350 to 450 DEG C, and at a pressure of from 2000 to 16000 KPa, in the presence of a catalyst based on chromium, zinc and at least one alkali metal. The Zn:Cr weight ratio of the catalyst, considered as oxides thereof, is from 5:1 to 1:1 and the alkali metals or the alkali metals as oxides are present in an amount of 0.5 to 5% by weight relative to the total of the elements considered as oxides. |