Abstract: Cu-Zn-Al-Zr slurry catalyst samples were prepared from different raw materials of Al and Zr by a complete liquid-phase technology and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and H₂ temperature-programmed reduction. The catalytic performance of the samples for the direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas was evaluated in a slurry reactor. The results indicated that different Al raw materials influenced obviously the catalyst performance, while different Zr raw materials had little effect on the catalyst performance. The activity of the catalyst samples with aluminum isopropoxide as the raw material was significantly higher than that with pseudo-boehmite. The catalyst samples with aluminum isopropoxide as the raw material had good Cu dispersion and strong interaction between Cu and Zr. It was concluded that the existence of trace Na in Al raw materials and the strong interaction between Cu and Zr were the main reasons for good catalytic performance.

Key words: complete liquid-phase technology, copper, zinc, aluminum, zirconium, syngas, dimethyl ether