Selective Conversion of Ethanol and Acetaldehyde to 1,3-Butadiene Over Zr-HMS Catalysts

The conversion of ethanol and acetaldehyde to 1,3-butadiene has been an emerging process to produce key chemicals. The preparation of highly efficient catalysts and the understanding of reaction mechanism are current research priority. Herein, mesoporous silica framework confining zirconia (Zr-HMS) was prepared and act as catalyst for 1,3-butadiene production from ethanol and acetaldehyde. The prepared catalysts were characterized by Low-angle X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ physical adsorption-desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV–vis spectra. It has been shown that the Zr-HMS exhibits similar textural properties to supported catalyst (ZrO₂/HMS). However, regardless of their comparable activities, higher 1,3-butadiene selectivity is obtained over Zr–HMS, which can be due to the different active zirconia species in two catalysts. Mesoporous framework confining character of Zr-HMS can achieve uniformly dispersed zirconia species. Further investigation toward the reaction process has presented new viewpoints for formation and consumption of some typical intermediates and byproducts, which will help to understand the reaction mechanism and construct efficient catalysts for conversion of ethanol and acetaldehyde to 1,3-butadiene.