With increased availability and decreased cost, ethanol is potentially a promising platform molecule for the production of a variety of value-added chemicals. In this review, we provide a detailed summary of recent advances in catalytic conversion of ethanol to a wide range of chemicals and fuels. We particularly focus on catalyst advances and fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms involved in ethanol steam reforming (ESR) to produce hydrogen, ethanol conversion to hydrocarbons ranging from light olefins to longer chain alkenes/alkanes and aromatics, and ethanol conversion to other oxygenates including 1-butanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate.

Recent Advances in Catalytic Conversion of Ethanol to Chemicals

The effects of temperature and space time on the transformation over a HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst of several model components of the liquid product obtained by the flash pyrolysis of vegetable biomass (1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, phenol, and 2-methoxyphenol) have been studied. The transformation of alcohols follows a route similar to that of methanol and ethanol toward the formation of hydrocarbon constituents of the lumps of gasoline and light olefins. Phenol and 2-methoxyphenol have a low reactivities to hydrocarbons, and the deposition of coke of thermal origin caused by the condensation of 2-methoxyphenol is noticeable. The generation of catalytic coke and the deactivation by this cause attenuate as the space time and water content in the feed are increased. To avoid the irreversible deactivation of the HZSM-5 zeolite, operations must be carried out at a temperature below 400 °C. Above this temperature, the increase in product aromaticity is also significant.

Transformation of Oxygenate Components of Biomass Pyrolysis Oil on a HZSM-5 Zeolite. I. Alcohols and Phenols

The dehydration of ethanol into ethylene was investigated over various solid acid catalysts, such as zeolites and silica–alumina, at temperatures ranging 453–573 K under atmospheric pressure. Ethylene was produced via diethyl ether during the dehydration process. H-mordenites were the most active for the dehydration. It was suggested that the catalyst activity could be correlated with the number of strong Bronsted acid sites in the catalyst. Further, the H-mordenite was more stable with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 90 than with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 20.

Dehydration of ethanol into ethylene over solid acid catalysts

A membrane is commonly regarded as a barrier capable of being selectively permeated by some components of a mixture or, at least, of changing the composition of a fluid stream that flows through it due to a certain driving force (a pressure, concentration, or electric potential gradient) Permselectivity is thus considered as the most distinctive property of a membrane

Catalytic inorganic membrane reactors: present experience and future opportunities

The effect of the operating conditions (temperature, space time, and time-on-stream) has been studied in the catalytic transformation of the aqueous fraction of the biomass pyrolysis oil obtained in a conical spouted bed reactor under atmospheric pressure. The results show that (i) the deactivation by coke (reversible) of the HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst is similar to the deactivation of the same catalyst in the transformation of light oxygenates (such as methanol and ethanol) and (ii) the deactivation attenuates as space time is increased. The results of product distribution are in agreement with those obtained in the transformation of the pure oxygenates contained in the pyrolysis oil. In experiments conducted following reaction−regeneration (by coke combustion) cycles, it has been proven that (i) at the reaction temperature of 450 °C, deactivation by dealumination of the zeolite in the reaction stage is important and (ii) this deactivation is due to the high water content in the reaction medium. This dealum...

Deactivation of a HZSM-5 Zeolite Catalyst in the Transformation of the Aqueous Fraction of Biomass Pyrolysis Oil into Hydrocarbons

Ethylene from ethanol over zeolite catalysts

Conversion of ethanol in aqueous solution over ZSM-5 zeolites: study of the reaction network

Enhancement of the aromatizing activity of ZSM-5 zeolite induced by hydrogen back-spillover : Aromatizing the outstream gases of a propane steam-cracker☆

Conversion of ethanol in aqueous solution over ZSM-5 zeolites: Influence of Reaction Parameters and Catalyst Acidic Properties as Studied by Ammonia TPD Technique

R. Le Van Mao

Papers

Ethylene from ethanol over zeolite catalysts

Conversion of ethanol in aqueous solution over ZSM-5 zeolites: study of the reaction network

Enhancement of the aromatizing activity of ZSM-5 zeolite induced by hydrogen back-spillover : Aromatizing the outstream gases of a propane steam-cracker☆

Conversion of ethanol in aqueous solution over ZSM-5 zeolites: Influence of Reaction Parameters and Catalyst Acidic Properties as Studied by Ammonia TPD Technique