VAPOR-PHASE CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ETHANOL INTO 1,3-BUTADIENE ON Cr-Ba/MCM-41 CATALYSTS
Al-MCM-41, 16%Ba/Al-MCM-41 and 1.4%Cr-16%Ba/Al-MCM-41 were used as catalysts in the vapor-phase catalytic conversion of ethanol. Physical-chemical properties of the catalysts and the effect of barium and chromium on the Al-MCM-41 activity and 1,3-butadiene yield were studied. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption (BET method), CO2chemisorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). When ethanol was completely converted on Al-MCM-41 and 16%Ba/Al-MCM-41, the reaction products showed a high selectivity for ethylene (90-98%). However, on the 1.4%Cr-16%Ba/Al-MCM-41 catalyst, a greater number of reaction products were obtained such as ethylene, acetaldehyde, diethyl ether and 1,3-butadiene. The maximum 1,3-butadiene yield obtained from ethanol reaction was 25% at 723 K and W/FEtOH = 15 g h mol-1. The latter result was obtained in a single step and without addition of reaction promoters (e.g., acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, hydrogen) in the feed stream to the reactor.