Process for producing ethanol from synthesis gas

Claim 1

In a process for the reaction of a synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, the improvement whereby oxygenated hydrocarbon products of two-carbon atoms are selectively produced, which comprises continuously contacting said synthesis gas with a heterogeneous catalyst consisting essentially of a combination of rhodium and iron and at reaction conditions correlated to achieve product efficiencies based on cabon consumption in excess of 10 percent and obtain the formation of ethanol, and optionally acetic acid and/or acetaldehyde as well, in an amount which is at least about 50 weight percent of the two or more carbon atom compounds obtained by the reaction and there is obtained an increased amount of ethanol relative to that produced when the catalyst is rhodium only, which reaction conditions include a temperature within the range of about 150°-450° C., a pressure within the range of about 15-10,000 psig, and a mole ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide within the range of 20:1 to 1:20.