This review is led by Prof. Weili Dai (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nankai University). The review provides the detailed insights into the synthesis of C4 chemicals from biomass-derived ethanol and acetic acid and shed a light on the development of highly efficient catalysts.
Biomass is the most abundant carbonaceous feedstock. Thereinto, ethanol and acetic acid are both platform molecules from biomass. The approaches to carbon-chain elongation, such as aldol condensation, have been developed as a crucial route for catalytic upgrading ethanol or acetic acid to C4 chemicals. Currently, C4 chemicals are mainly from the cracking of naphtha fraction of petroleum. Therefore, it is of great significance to convert ethanol or acetic acid into C4 chemicals.
In this review, researchers highlight the recent advancements of the following five reactions, including (i) the conversion of ethanol to butadiene, (ii) the conversion of ethanol to n-butenes, (iii) the conversion of ethanol to isobutene, (iv) the conversion of acetic acid to isobutene, (v) the conversion of ethanol to n-butanol. The active sites, reaction parameters and the corresponding reaction mechanism have been critically reviewed to provide an in-depth understanding of complex reactions. At last, based on the above cascade reactions, the difference and commonalities are further summarized, in order to provide the fundamental guideline for the rational design of eligible catalysts.
See the article:
Catalytic Upgrading Biomass-Derived Ethanol and Acetic Acid into C4 Chemicals
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-02 4 - 2250 - 9
Science China Chemistry