Acid–Base Promoted Dehydrogenation Coupling of Ethanol on Supported Ag Particles
Jian Zhang, Kai Qi Shi, Zhe An, Yanru Zhu, Xin Shu, Hongyan Song, Xu Xiang, Jing He
Abstract
Dehydrogenation coupling of ethanol to n-butanol has received much attention due to the wide application of n-butanol. Highly selective butanol production from ethanol remains a challenge due to competitive reactions in the dehydrogenation and/or condensation and great difficulty in ethanol dehydrogenation. This work reports a synergistic catalysis between layered double hydroxide (LDO), an acidic–basic support, and supported Ag particles for the dehydrogenation coupling of ethanol to n-butanol. A selectivity of up to 77% toward n-butanol with an ethanol conversion of 23.2%, among impressive levels reported till now, has been achieved at 350 °C, 0.1 MPa. A selectivity of up to 60% toward n-butanol with an ethanol conversion of 45%, the highest selectivity at an ethanol conversion of >45% reported till now, has been achieved at 250 °C, 2 MPa. A synergistic catalysis between the acid–base sites of the LDO surface and supported Ag particles have been revealed to contribute the excellent butanol selectivity: basic sites promote adsorption and subsequent dehydrogenation of ethanol on Ag particles; in addition to the promotion from Ag, the following aldol condensation is boosted by acid–base cooperation.