CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ETHANOL TO 1-BUTANOL AND HIGHER ALCOHOLS: INVESTIGATION OF VAPOR LIQUID EQUILIBRIA

摘要

Ethanol makes up the largest fraction of renewable fuels in the U.S., but future growth in ethanol production depends in part on improving fuel properties and on finding uses in addition to direct combustion. One potential route to improved ethanol use is the carbon-carbon coupling commonly regarded as the Guerbet reaction [1]. In the ethanol Guerbet reaction, ethanol is oxidized to acetaldehyde, the acetaldehyde undergoes an aldol condensation to crotonaldehyde, and then the crotonaldehyde is hydrogenated to butanol [2]. Product alcohols can subsequently undergo Guerbet reactions with themselves and ethanol, leading to higher alcohols. The low energy density and affinity for water of ethanol are overcome if ethanol is upgraded to 1-butanol and other higher alcohols. Higher alcohols have energy values closer to gasoline and low affinity for water, making them strong candidates for fuels. Higher alcohols also have broad applications in the commercial chemical industry. The current method for producing higher alcohols is the oxo process, which uses petroleum-derived propylene as the feedstock [1]. The oxo process is complicated, requires high energy input, and is costly [1].