Dehydrogenation and dehydration of ethyl alcohol over a polynaphthoquinone containing various amounts of FeCl3. Selectivity of formation of acetaldehyde, ethylene and diethyl ether

Abstract

The decomposition of ethyl alcohol over polynaphthoquinones with various amounts of FeCl3 in the temperature range from 150 to 230°C is reported. Adsorption of ethyl alcohol on poly-naphthoquinones containing FeCl3 is of a Langmuir type, ethyl alcohol being adsorbed selectively on the FeCl3. The mechanism and the selectivity of the formation of acetaldehyde, ethylene and diethyl ether are discussed in detail. The relative ratio of the formation of diethyl ether to ethylene in the dehydration is markedly affected by the FeCl3 content of the catalysts.