Controlling Reaction Pathways for Alcohol Dehydration and Dehydrogenation over FeSBA-15 Catalysts

Abstract

The iron location in FeSBA-15 strongly influences the selectivity to dehydrogenation and dehydration in ethanol conversion. At low iron loading, Fe is present as isolated $$\hbox{Fe}^{3+}$$ species in the amorphous silica phase. At higher loading additional aggregated forms of iron oxide exist. Isolated $$\hbox{Fe}^{3+}$$ species in the silica matrix imply Bronsted acidity resulting in selective formation of ethylene, whereas $$\hbox{FeO}_{\rm x}$$ clusters catalyze formation of ethylene and aldehyde.