Nanostructured catalysts for BIOEthanol transformation to industrially important chemicals

Abstract Utilization of a low-cost biomaterial, such as bioethanol, to produce value–added compounds for current industry has been investigated. This work is focused on the catalytic transformation of bioethanol into industrially significant alkenes. Catalytic transformation of ethanol was studied using catalysts based mainly on nanostructured materials as Mg-Al hydrotalcites, sepiolites and zeolites doped with Cu, K, Sr, Zn and Mn. The catalytic tests were carried out in a plug-flow reactor in the temperature range of 350—550 °C. Undoped zeolites promote acid-catalyzed dehydration of ethanol, while in case of basic catalysts, such as hydrotalcites, the product distribution is shifted toward butadiene. The impact of the hydrotalcites preparation method on their structure and catalytic activity is reported. It was found that hydrotalcite with well-developed layered structure, prepared by slow hydrolysis, promotes the formation of butadiene (with butadiene yield of 28.2 % at 400 °C vs. ethylene yield of 17.2 % at 550 °C).