Metals on ZrO2: Catalysts for the Aldol Condensation of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) to C8 Ketones

Production of Butane from Methyl Ethyl Ketone over Pt/Al2O3

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) was catalytically converted to butane directly in one step over platinum (Pt) supported on alumina (Al2O3). The reaction was performed in the gas phase in a fixed bed reactor. Conversion of MEK to butane was achieved by hydrogenation of MEK to 2-butanol, dehydration of 2-butanol to butene, and further hydrogenation of butene to butane. The results showed that butane can be produced with selectivity reaching 95% depending on the operating conditions. The highest selectivity for butane was obtained at 220 °C and a H2/MEK molar ratio of 15. Copyright © 2023 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). 

Conversion of 5-Methyl-3-Heptanone to C8 Alkenes and Alkane over Bifunctional Catalysts

A one-step catalytic process was used to catalyze the hydrodeoxygenation of 5-methyl-3-heptanone (C8 ketone) to a mixture of 5-methyl-3-heptene, 5-methyl-2-heptene (C8 alkenes), and 3-methyl heptane (C8 alkane). High conversion of C8 ketone to the desired products was achieved over a single bed of a supported catalyst (bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst) consisting of one transition metal (copper (Cu) or platinum (Pt)) loaded on alumina (Al2O3) under mild operating conditions (reaction temperatures were varied between 180 °C to 260 °C, and the pressure was 1 atm). The C8 ketone was hydrogenated to 5-methyl-3-heptanol (C8 alcohol) over metal sites, followed by dehydration of the latter on acid sites on the support to obtain a mixture of C8 alkenes. These C8 alkenes can be further hydrogenated on metal sites to make a C8 alkane. The results showed that the main products over copper loaded on alumina (20 wt% Cu–Al2O3) were a mixture of C8 alkenes and C8 alkane in different amounts depending on the operating conditions (the highest selectivity for C8 alkenes (~82%) was obtained at 220 °C and a H2/C8 ketone molar ratio of 2). However, over platinum supported on alumina (1 wt% Pt–Al2O3), the major product was a C8 alkane with a selectivity up to 97% and a conversion of 99.9% at different temperatures and all H2/C8 ketone ratios.

Effect of Zirconia Polymorph on Vapor-Phase Ketonization of Propionic Acid

Vapor-phase ketonization of propionic acid derived from biomass was studied at 300–375 °C over ZrO2 with different zirconia polymorph. The tetragonal ZrO2 (t-ZrO2) are more active than monoclinic ZrO2 (m-ZrO2). The results of characterizations from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman suggest m-ZrO2 and t-ZrO2 are synthesized by the solvothermal method. NH3 and CO2 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD and CO2-TPD) measurements show that there were more medium-strength Lewis acid base sites with lower coordination exposed on m-ZrO2 relative to t-ZrO2, increasing the adsorption strength of propionic acid. The in situ DRIFTS (Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy) of adsorbed propionic acid under ketonization reaction reveal that as the most abundant surface intermediates, the monodentate propionates are more active than bidentate propionates. In comparison with m-ZrO2, the t-ZrO2 surface favors monodentate adsorption over bidentate adsorption. Additionally, the adsorption strength of monodentate propionate is weaker on t-ZrO2. These differences in adsorption configuration and adsorption strength of propionic acid are affected by the zirconia structure. The higher surface concentration and weaker adsorption strength of monodentate propionates contribute to the higher ketonization rate in the steady state.