Patent ID: 7468396

Claim:
A process for directly producing mixed linear alpha-alcohols having 1 to 18 carbon atoms from synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, comprising the step of reacting hydrogen and carbon monoxide over a catalyst to produce mixed linear alpha-alcohols having 1 to 18 carbon atoms and hydrocarbons having 1 to 25 carbon atoms through a Fischer-Tropsch process in one step in a reactor, wherein: (a) the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is within the range of 1 to 3; (b) the catalyst is an activated carbon supported cobalt/zirconium/lanthanum catalyst, wherein the activated carbon is made from coconut shell; (c) the reactor is a fixed bed reactor, a slurry reactor or a fluid reactor; and (d) the reaction is carried out under conditions of a reaction temperature within the range of 423 to 573 K, a reaction pressure within the range of 0.5 to 10.0 MPa, and a volume hourly space velocity of the mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide within the range of 100 to 5000.