Characterization of unsupported copper-chromium catalysts for ethanol dehydrogenation

Yau Jen Tu, Yu Wen Chen, Chiuping Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde has been studied over a series of unsupported copper-chromium catalysts. The results indicate that the sintering occurs in both reduction and dehydrogenation processes. The Cr2O3-promoted copper catalysts prevent sintering in both reduction and reaction processes. The catalyst with Cr/Cu molar ratio of 4/40 has the highest activity and stability. The temperature-programmed reduction results indicate that the good dispersion of Cr2O3 promoter helps to prevent sintering in the reduction process. The catalyst which contains Cu and CuCr2O4 has a lower initial activity and the thermal stability is as poor as the unpromoted one. Cu0 instead of Cu2+ is the active site. The TOFs of promoted catalysts with Cr/Cu = 1/40 to 6/40 are lower than that of unpromoted catalyst, and thus the chromic oxide is not just a textural promoter of Cu. The higher copper surface areas of promoted catalysts easily overcome the loss in TOFs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-189
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Molecular Catalysis
Volume89
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Apr 1994

Keywords

  • chromic oxide
  • copper
  • dehydrogenation
  • ethanol
  • promoter

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