Methanol and ethanol reactivity in the presence of hydrotalcites with Mg/Al ratios varying from 2 to 7

by D. Stošić, F. Hosoglu, S. Bennici, A. Travert, M. Capron, F. Dumeignil, J.-L. Couturier, J.-L. Dubois, A. Auroux

Source : Methanol and ethanol reactivity in the presence of hydrotalcites with Mg/Al ratios varying from 2 to 7

1-s2-0-s1566736716303788-fx1

Hihlights

• Guerbet reaction of methanol and ethanol was achieved over Mg-Al mixed oxides.
• Acidic/basic properties by adsorption calorimetry were dependent on the Mg/Al ratio.
• The activity of Mg-Al mixed oxides in the reaction depends on the composition.
• Both acid and basic sites are important for the selectivity to 1-butanol and 1-propanol.

Abstract

Mg-Al mixed oxides, prepared from hydrotalcite precursors with Mg/Al ratio varying from 2 to 7, were tested in the Guerbet reaction of methanol and ethanol to heavier products. Acidic-basic properties were followed by the adsorption calorimetry of SO₂ and NH₃molecules and correlated with the catalytic activity. The results showed that the selectivity to higher alcohols is increasing with the increase of both kinds of active sites.