Transition Metal-Promoted Mg-Fe Mixed Oxides for Conversion of Ethanol to Valuable Products

Abstract

The conversion ofethanol into petrochemicals, such as ethyl andbutyl acetate, butanol, hexanol, and so forth was studied. The conversionwas catalyzed by Mg-Fe mixed oxide modified with a second transitionmetal (Ni, Cu, Co, Mn, or Cr). The main aim was to describe the influenceof second transition metal on (i) the catalyst itself and (ii) reactionproducts such as ethyl acetate, butanol, hexanol, acetone, and ethanal.Moreover, the results were compared with the results of pure Mg-Fe.The reaction was carried out in the gas phase in a flow reactor witha weight hour space velocity of 4.5 h(-1) for 32 hat three reaction temperatures (280, 300, and 350 degrees C). The metalsNi and Cu in Mg-Fe oxide enhanced the ethanol conversion due to thepopulation of active dehydrogenation sites. Despite the lower acido-basicity,Cu, Co, and Ni supported the yield of ethyl acetate, and Cu and Nialso promoted the yield of higher alcohols. Ni was related to theextent of the gasification reactions. Moreover, long-term stability(by leaching of metals) test was carried out for all catalysts (128h).