| abstract |
A process for producing ethanol from the reaction of methanol, hydrogen and carbon monoxide catalyzed by a phosphine-iodine promoted cobalt-ruthenium catalyst, the improvement of maintaining the phosphine to halide ratio and concentration within a critical range, and whereby the concentration of phosphine compound in the reaction mixture is increased without causing an undesirable decrease in the activity of the catalyst; thereby obtaining a highly stable and active catalyst providing an increased selectivity to ethanol formation . This is accomplished under such conditions that the catalyst stability is maintained and the ratio of phosphine to halide is kept at a relatively constant value during the reaction. |