Carbon supported alkaline catalysts for guerbet coupling of bioethanol

Abstract

Bioethanol valorization to butanol by continuous heterogeneous catalytic self-alkylation provides an option for the fuel industry. Dimerization of ethanol (E) was studied over activated carbon supported metal loaded and metal-free alkaline catalysts using a flow-through tube microreactor, applying WHSVE of 0.20-2.0 gE/h gcat., 21 bar total pressure and 275-400°C reaction temperature. Activated carbon (AC) was impregnated with various alkaline salts as the catalysts of the aldol reaction. Different basicity of the investigated catalysts resulted in differing catalytic activities. Butanol was the product of highest yield. Longer chain primary aliphatic alcohols, having even number of carbon atoms were also obtained with yield decreasing significantly with increasing chain length.