Mild synthesis of C6 + higher alcohols from aqueous ethanol upgrading over Ni@MB catalyst derived from melt-blown cloth

Abstract

Direct synthesis of alternative higher alcohols from aqueous bio-ethanol has received increasing attention because of its promising application in value-add fine chemicals and bio-jet fuels, yet the efficient carbon chain growth towards C6 + higher alcohols still facing great challenges. Herein, the polypropylene-based melt-blown cloth (MB) was adopted as novel precursor to fabricate the high-active Ni@MB catalysts for the direct mild upgrading of aqueous ethanol (50 wt%). Superior higher alcohols yield of 46.9 % with 74.1 % ethanol conversion was achieved at 170 °C over Ni@MB-1/20–500. The nitrogenous MB facilitated the formation of N-doped graphene structure that promoting the aldol-coupling and dehydrogenation capability of Ni@MB. For further enhancing the efficient carbon chain growth towards C6 + higher alcohols, a novel staged-reaction-cooling (SRC) strategy was developed and optimal C6 + higher alcohols selectivity up to 72.1 % with 83.2 % ethanol conversion was achieved. This work gains new insight to mild synthesis of C6 + higher alcohols from readily-accessible bio-ethanol.