Comparison the Performance of Four Catalyst Types in the Calytic Dehaydration of Ethanol

Abstract

The dehydration of ethyl alcohol in atmospheric isothermal vapor phase to produce both ethylene and ether was studied in fixed bed reactor (2.54 cm inside diameter and 110 cm height). Two temperature ranges were used according to catalyst type, these are 250-350 0C for both alumina and zeolites (4A and 5A) and 90-120 0C for resin, besides weight ratio of catalyst to molar flow rate (W/FA) from 38 to 116.6 (gcat.hr/gmol) was selected to test the conversion, yield, selectivity and rate of reaction of products for each catalyst . Comparative study between catalysts was made and it was clearly found that alumina gives higher conversion than other catalysts (98% at 350 0C and W/F=116.6 gcat.hr/gmole), also the study shows longer deactivation time of resin in comparison to deactivation time of alumina and zeolites. Also it was clearly shown that ether can benefit from the large cage of catalyst for formation. The present work is concerned with catalytic dehydration of ethanol in vapor phase to produce diethyl ether and/or ethylene in packed bed reactor which is mainly directed to study the most effective parameters such as temperature of reaction, liquid hourly space time (residence time) and reaction time. Four different catalysts such as alumina, 4A zeolite, 5A zeolite and cation resin are used.