Transition Metal-Promoted Mg-Fe Mixed Oxides for Conversion of Ethanol to Valuable Products

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).