New mechanistic insights into the role of water in the dehydration of ethanol into ethylene over ZSM-5 catalysts at low temperature

Abstract

We highlight the role of OH-treated weakly acidic ZSM-5 in the ethanol-to-ethylene at low temperature. Ethylene forms via (i) primary dimer from ethanol on Brønsted sites, followed by diethyl ether cracking on Lewis sites, and (ii) secondary cleavage of C–OH in ethanol over Brønsted sites.