Title: Influence of precursors on the catalytic activity of alumina for bio-ethanol dehydration in microchannel reactors

Authors: Xilian Ouyang, Shulian Li, Jun Yue, Fengjun Jiao, Guangwen Chen

Addresses: Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China; Graduate University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. ' Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China. ' Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China. ' Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China. ' Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

Abstract: In this paper, the catalytic activity of alumina for bio-ethanol dehydration was studied in a microchannel reactor. Five catalysts were prepared from precursors with different ratios of AlOOH (pseudo boehmite) and Al(OH)₃ (bayerite). The physicochemical properties of catalysts were characterised by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD). The influence of reaction temperature and space velocity was investigated. The results show that the catalyst prepared from precursor with AlOOH 46.3 mol% has the highest ethanol conversion and ethylene selectivity. An ethylene yield of 18.28 g/(g_cat·h) can be achieved, implying that the dehydration process can be intensified using microchannel reactors.

Keywords: activated alumina; precursors; bioethanol dehydration; microchannel reactors; global warming; ethanol conversion; ethylene selectivity; biofuels; ethylene production; catalyst modification; process intensification; greenhouse gases; GHG emissions; CO2 emissions; carbon emissions; carbon dioxide; emission reduction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2009.029217

International Journal of Global Warming, 2009 Vol.1 No.4, pp.456 - 472

Published online: 10 Nov 2009 *

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