CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ETHANOL ON CARBON CATALYSTS

The decomposition of ethanol was studied using carbon catalysts with a different nature of the surface. They were prepared from poly(furfury l alcohol). The catalytic tests were performed in a flow reactor in th e temperature range 323-633 K. Dehydration and dehydrogenation of etha nol, as well as acetal formation, occur under the conditions applied. The products are ethene plus diethyl ether, acetaldehyde and 1,1'-diet hoxyethane, respectively. The study supports previous findings that ox idation with nitric acid enhances dehydration activity and selectivity , whereas introduction of Ni2+ ions increases dehydrogenation activity and selectivity. The supported Ni2+ cations, in the hydrated form, ac t as additional active centers for dehydrogenation. In addition, both these surface modifications also enhance carbon catalytic activity and selectivity for the acetal formation. The acetal results from a secon dary reaction between the formed acetaldehyde and ethanol on acidic ce nters located on the outer surface of the catalyst.