Previously, we have presented our results on the direct catalytic conversion of biomass derived ethanol at any stage of purification to hydrocarbon blend-stock at 350�C and 1 atmosphere. The catalysts, metal substituted zeolites, are durable under operating conditions and can be decoked repeatedly without losing ethanol conversion efficiency. Now, we have found that the use of heterobimetallic zeolites, instead of monometallic ones, results in dramatic reduction of ethylene and ethane during ethanol conversion. These results were unexpected since the established mechanism suggests ethanol dehydration to ethylene as the first step in ethanol conversion to higher hydrocarbons. Our preliminary results on deuterium exchanged alcohol, C2H5OD, show that deuterium incorporation in the product stream, suggesting that ethanol dehydration might not be the only pathway in conversion of ethanol to hydrocarbons.  The hydrocarbon blend-stock from ethanol can be fractionally distilled to collect blend-stock fractions suitable for blending with gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel.  We have also employed catalyst modification approach to maximize hydrocarbon blend-stock for jet fuel (C6+ species) from ethanol. In addition to ethanol, we will also present our results on the catalytic conversion of higher alcohols to hydrocarbons.

Direct catalytic conversion of alcohol streams into hydrocarbon blend-stock

248th National Meeting (2014)

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