Abstract The hydrogen sulfide poisoning of the methanol synthesis C207Cu-based catalyst was investigated at atmospheric pressure, temperature 250 ∼265°C,hydrogen sulfide content 100–280 ppm, based on the methanol composition reaction. The higher the hydrogen sulfide content, the faster the rate of deactivation; the higher the temperature, the faster the rate of deactivation. The intrinsic deactivation rate equations were derived from the experimental data. In addition, the poisoned catalyst was measured by X-ray diffraction.