The conversion of
ethanol into petrochemicals, such as ethyl and
butyl acetate, butanol, hexanol, and so forth was studied. The conversion
was catalyzed by Mg-Fe mixed oxide modified with a second transition
metal (Ni, Cu, Co, Mn, or Cr). The main aim was to describe the influence
of second transition metal on (i) the catalyst itself and (ii) reaction
products such as ethyl acetate, butanol, hexanol, acetone, and ethanal.
Moreover, the results were compared with the results of pure Mg-Fe.
The reaction was carried out in the gas phase in a flow reactor with
a weight hour space velocity of 4.5 h–1 for 32 h
at three reaction temperatures (280, 300, and 350 °C). The metals
Ni and Cu in Mg-Fe oxide enhanced the ethanol conversion due to the
population of active dehydrogenation sites. Despite the lower acido-basicity,
Cu, Co, and Ni supported the yield of ethyl acetate, and Cu and Ni
also promoted the yield of higher alcohols. Ni was related to the
extent of the gasification reactions. Moreover, long-term stability
(by leaching of metals) test was carried out for all catalysts (128
h).