References: 25 tit.

Features of the process of methanol partial oxidation on supported gold catalysts as compared with Ag and Cu catalysts have been studied. The influence of electronic states of supported gold was investigated by the methods of diffuse reflectance electron spectroscopy, XRD and electron microscopy. By comparison of catalytic and spectroscopic data it was concluded that univalent Au+ ions are the active sites of the gold catalysts in alcohol partial oxidation. Modifiers stabilizing the ionic states of gold (Ce and Zr oxides) increase the selectivity of the catalyst, whereas elec-tron-releasing additions (La and Cs oxides) impair the catalyst properties.