Vapor-phase dehydration of 1,3-butanediol to 1,3-butadiene over WO3/SiO2 catalyst

Several silica-supported metal oxides (MxOy/SiO2) were employed as catalysts for 1,3-butadiene (BD) production via the dehydration of 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO). Among the MxOy/SiO2 catalysts tested, WO3/SiO2 catalyst showed the most promising activity for BD production. Several parameters, such as reaction temperature, contact time, calcination temperature of the catalyst, and W content in the catalyst, influenced the rate of the first-step dehydration of 1,3-BDO to unsaturated alcohols (UOLs), while only contact time significantly affected the consecutive dehydration of UOLs to BD. The poisoning experiment using 2,6-and 3,5-dimethylpyridine revealed that both Bronsted and Lewis acid sites of the WO3/SiO2 catalyst played an essential role in the dehydration of 1,3-BDO to BD. Under optimum conditions at 300 degrees C and a contact time of 2.65 h, a BD yield as high as 73.4% was attained.

Automated summary

In this study, several silica-supported metal oxides catalysts were used for the production of 1,3-butadiene via the dehydration of 1,3-butanediol. The WO3/SiO2 catalyst showed the most promising activity, and various parameters such as reaction temperature, contact time, calcination temperature, and W content influenced the reaction rate and product yield.