Abundant and low-cost shale gas has replaced naphtha as the feedstock of choice for C2-C4 olefin production. This change has led to a shortage of 1,3-butadiene (BD), a critical intermediate for the manufacture of synthetic rubber. The constrained BD supply has triggered price fluctuations and interest in on-purpose BD production. Cellulosic ethanol is a sustainable feedstock quickly becoming mainstream and its conversion into BD significantly reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when compared to petroleum-derived BD. Supported ZnO/ZrO2/SiO2 catalysts show particular promise for the one-pot conversion of ethanol to BD, yet little is known about the atomic structures giving rise to catalytic activity. We report how insights about catalytic activity and selectivity, as probed by temperature-programmed surface reaction spectroscopy, are made possible via in situ X-ray absorption, Raman, and UV-vis spectroscopies. These new fundamental insights point towards structure-activity/selectivity relationships to guide the rational design of improved catalyst performance.

Structure-activity relationships in the conversion of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene over supported ZnO/ZrO2/SiO2 catalysts

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.