Selective Production of 1,3-Butadiene from 1,3 Butanediol over Y2Zr2O7 Catalyst

The vapor-phase dehydration of 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) to produce 1,3-butadiene (BD) was investigated over yttrium zirconate, Y2Zr2O7, which was prepared through a hydrothermal aging process. 1,3-BDO was initially dehydrated to three unsaturated alcohols, namely 3-buten-2-ol, 3-buten-1-ol, and 2-buten-1-ol, followed by the further dehydration to BD. The catalytic activity of Y2Zr2O7 was strongly dependent on the calcination temperature. Furthermore, the reaction temperature was one of the important factors to produce BD efficiently: the selectivity to BD was increased with increasing reaction temperature up to 375 degrees C, while coke formation led to catalyst deactivation together with by-product formation at higher temperatures. Y2Zr2O7 catalyst calcined at 900 degrees C showed a high BD yield of 95% at 375 degrees C and a time on stream of 10 h.

Automated summary

The catalytic dehydration of 1,3-butanediol to produce 1,3-butadiene over yttrium zirconate is influenced by the calcination temperature and reaction temperature, with higher temperatures leading to increased BD yield but also more coke formation and by-product formation.