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Catalytic Upgrading of Ethanol to n-Butanol: Progress in Catalyst Development
Xianyuan Wu1, Geqian Fang1, Yuqin Tong1
1Institute of Industrial Catalysis, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Because n-butanol as a fuel additive has more advantageous physicochemical properties than those of ethanol, ethanol valorization to n-butanol through homo- or heterogeneous catalysis has received much attention in recent decades in both scientific and industrial fields. Recent progress in catalyst development for upgrading ethanol to n-butanol, which involves homogeneous catalysts, such as iridium and ruthenium complexes, and heterogeneous catalysts, including metal oxides, hydroxyapatite (HAP), and, in particular, supported metal catalysts, is reviewed herein. The structure-activity relationships of catalysts and underlying reaction mechanisms are critically examined, and future research directions on the design and improvement of catalysts are also proposed.
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