RESUMEN
The aim of this research was to examine the effect of strontium content in the MgAlO catalyst for the catalytic ethanol reaction on the product distribution. The structure of the catalysts and the actual amount of strontium on the catalysts were verified using XRD and ICP techniques, respectively. The acid and basic strength characteristics of catalysts were examined using NH3-TPD and CO2-TPD techniques, respectively. The strontium content was found to influence the textural properties and the acidic and basic characteristics of the catalysts, leading to differences in product selectivity and ethanol conversion. The MgAlO catalyst with 1.9 wt % strontium provided the maximum ethylene and butanol selectivity, probably due to the presence of appropriate medium acidic and strong basic sites. All catalysts can efficiently produce ethylene by a dehydration reaction and acetaldehyde by a dehydrogenation reaction. Acetaldehyde selectivity was dominant with increased strontium loading.
RESUMEN
The MgAlO catalyst was obtained from thermal decomposition of the MgAl-LDH catalyst having Mg/Al molar ratio of 5. The catalytic Guerbet reaction of ethanol was investigated to determine the effect of WHSV and nitrogen flow rate on butanol production and product distribution. It was performed in a fixed-bed microreactor under continuous flow of vaporized ethanol mixed with N2. The MgAlO catalyst had high total basic sites and high total acid sites that were crucial for ethanol Guerbet reaction. The MgAlO catalyst showed the highest butanol selectivity at 300â under WHSV = 3.10 h-1 and nitrogen flow rate = 3,600 mL/h, and the highest butanol yield at 400â under WHSV = 3.10 h-1 and nitrogen flow rate = 900 mL/h. It can be summarized that in order to enhance the butanol yield, the low WHSV is preferred to increase the contact time of ethanol and catalyst under moderate temperature.
