Effect of C3-Alcohol Impurities on Alumina-Catalyzed Bioethanol Dehydration to Ethylene: Experimental Study and Reactor Modeling

The impact of feedstock impurities on catalytic process is among the crucial issues for processing real raw materials. A and model 92%-bioethanol contaminated with 0.03–0.3% mol 1-propanol or 2-propanol were used to make ethylene a proprietary alumina catalyst in isothermal flow reactor. We proposed formal kinetic describe impure bioethanol conversion byproducts it evaluate multi-tubular reactor (MTR) 60 KTPA production. simulated data agree well experimental results. Under reaction-controlled conditions, C3-alcohols strongly suppress formation by-products ethylene-from-ethanol, slightly inhibit ethylene-via-ether. It suppression ethylene-via-ether route that causes decrease ethanol conversion. predominant results an increased yield but doubling load required achieve as pure feedstock. 2-Propanol has stronger effect dehydration than 1-propanol. Diffusion inside grain’s levels out MTR, giving high ~98% while dehydrating 92% ethanol. However, dilute generate propylene (which contaminates target product), these worsen consumption productivity MTR.