SYNTHESIS AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF CU-CONTAINING COMPLEX ZR-AL-CE-OXIDES FOR ETHANOL CONVERSION

ABSTRACT

Ethanol dehydrogenation is commonly used as a process of production valuable products: acetaldehyde - the starting material for the synthesis of a large number of industrial chemicals such as acetic acid, acetate esters and hydrogen - attractive product for renewable energy. It is important also that alcohols produced from biomass (bio alcohols) can be considered as a renewable raw material.
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of composition and synthesis method of Al-Zr-Ce-complex oxides with 5%Cu on its catalytic activity in vapor-phase reactions of ethanol.
We investigated the effect of preparation method, phase composition, calcination temperature and Cu-modification of the Zr-Al mixed oxides on their structural features and catalytic performance in bio ethanol conversion. Zirconia–alumina mixed oxides with different atomic ratios were prepared via sol–gel method. Physicochemical properties were determined using XRD, BET and FT-IR-spectroscopy. Catalytic activity and selectivity were investigated for ethanol conversion to acetaldehyde.

Keywords: mixed oxides, dehydrogenation, ethanol, selectivity