Elucidation of Pd modification effect on catalytic behaviors of γ-Al2O3-P catalysts toward ethanol dehydration and dehydrogenation

The catalytic ethanol dehydration and dehydrogenation over gamma-Al2O3-P catalysts with Pd modification were investigated. The Al2O3-P is promising to obtain the highest yield of diethyl ether (ca. 38.4%) at 350 degrees C attributing to increased portion of weak/moderate to strong acid site. Further investigation was conducted with Pd modification on this catalyst. It revealed that the 0.5Pd/Al2O3-P catalyst produced diethyl ether yield of ca. 33.3% at 350 degrees C with significant amount of acetaldehyde at low temperature. Increased reaction temperature to 400 degrees C obtained the highest ethylene yield (ca. 43.7%) with this catalyst because of both acid site and Pd site.

Automated summary

The catalytic ethanol dehydration and dehydrogenation over gamma-Al2O3-P catalysts with Pd modification resulted in high yields of diethyl ether and ethylene. Pd modification significantly affected the catalyst performance, leading to increased yields but also the production of acetaldehyde at low temperatures.