Selective production of olefins and chemicals from alcohols dehydration over novel solid acid catalysts

Abstract

This report summarizes the knowledge acquired, and experiences gained by the writer during his Final Year Project at ICES. The writer was assigned to a heterogeneous catalysis project which involved synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the catalyst(s) in ethanol dehydration to produce light olefins. The writer was briefed on the project before commencing the synthesis of the catalysts using various template materials and precursors. The reagents that were common to all catalysts are ammonium di-hydrogen phosphate and CTAB or P123. The synthesized catalysts were then subject to a range of characterization techniques including BET, FT-IR, XRD and n-butylamine volumetry. Subsequently, the catalysts were loaded into the micro-reactor and the catalysts were evaluated at temperatures between 423 K and 623 K. Finally, catalytic performance was expressed in terms of ethanol conversion, selectivity and yield of ethylene.