Design of highly selective ethanol dehydration nanocatalysts for ethylene production

Recent developments in (bio)ethanol conversion to fuels and chemicals over heterogeneous catalysts

Bioethanol is one of the most important bio-resources produced from biomass fermentation and is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil-based fuels as it is regarded as renewable and clean. Bioethanol and its derivatives are used as feedstocks in petrochemical processes as well as fuel and fuel additives in motor vehicles to compensate for the depletion of fossil fuels. This review chronicles the recent developments in the catalytic conversion of ethanol to diethyl ether, ethylene, propylene, long-chain hydrocarbons, and other important products. Various heterogeneous catalysts, such as zeolites, metal oxides, heteropolyacids, mesoporous materials, and metal-organic frameworks, have been used in the ethanol conversion processes and are discussed extensively. The significance of various reaction parameters such as pressure, temperature, water content in the ethanol feed, and the effect of catalyst modification based on various kinds of literature are critically evaluated. Further, coke formation and coke product analysis using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques during the ethanol conversion are briefly discussed. The review concludes by providing insights into possible research paths pertaining to catalyst design aimed at enhancing the catalytic conversion of (bio)ethanol.

Selective synthesis of α-olefins by dehydration of fatty alcohols over alumina–thoria mixed catalysts

The selective and high-yield production of α-olefins by alcohol dehydration is challenging because the isomerization and polymerization olefin products are more thermodynamically stable.

Catalytic, Tunable, One-Step Bismuth(III) Triflate Reaction with Alcohols: Dehydration Versus Dimerization

Bi(OTf)₃·xH₂O is a powerful catalyst for the dehydration of tertiary alcohols into alkenes in apolar solvents. The reaction proceeds smoothly and selectively, with amounts as low as 0.01 mol % catalyst, in yields up to 93%. Moreover, in polar solvents, Bi(OTf)₃·xH₂O (0.1-1 mol %) selectively catalyzes the dimerization of the alcohols instead, forming new C-C bonds, in yields up to 96%. This mild, efficient, economic, and eco-friendly method is applicable across different chemical classes and amenable to several functional groups.