In this presentation, we will discuss the selective conversion of ethanol in vapor phase to ethylene on supported single site Co catalysts. More specifically, we will focus on γ-Al2O3 supported Co single sites which result in significant activity enhancement in terms of conversion and ethylene selectivity with respect to the bare commercial γ-Al2O3 support. Continuous flow fixed bed reactor studies with a 0.23%Co(single site)/γ-Al2O3 catalyst, for example, resulted in an ethanol conversion and ethylene selectivity at 300 °C of 99.8% and 99%, respectively, which was much higher than that observed for the commercial γ-Al2O3 of 90% and 91%, respectively. We will describe a systematic comparison of the acid and metal sites characteristics of γ-Al2O3 and Co modified γ-Al2O3 catalysts as followed by kinetic studies, spectroscopic characterization, and probe molecules (e.g., pyridine) temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) in combination with in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to identify the nature, strength, and density of acid sites. It will be shown that the observed rate enhancement due to Co single sites is the result of the presence of new Co active sites rather than an increase in the density or strength of Lewis acid sites in the γ-Al2O3 support.

Enhanced ethanol conversion to ethylene on supported single site Co catalysts

256th National Meeting (2018)

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