The dehydrogenation of 2-butanol over copper-based catalysts: optimising catalyst composition and determining kinetic parameters

This work examines the dehydrogenation of 2-butanol over copper-based catal yst. The effects of support type (MgO and SiO2) and copper loading on methy l ethyl ketone (MEK) yield were studied. The effects of reaction temperatur e, 2-butanol feed flow rate and catalyst particle size were also investigat ed. The highest MEK yields were obtained with a 15 wt.% copper on silica ca talyst. The optimum catalyst was used to measure the kinetic parameters of the 2-butanol dehydrogenation reaction at temperatures from 190 to 280 degr eesC. At higher temperatures catalyst deactivation took place. (C) 2001 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.