Butanol Conversion Research Articles

An aqueous process to functionalize the surface of poly(vinyl chloride) with hydroxy groups

An aqueous process based on Williamson's synthesis to functionalize the surface of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with hydroxy groups has been discussed. The method involves the conversion of butanol to sodium butoxide, its coupling to the surface of PVC and the subsequent hydrolysis to form hydroxy groups. The material is characterized by FT-IR and scanning electron microscopic methods.

Dehydration of 1-butanol over γ-A1 2O 3 catalytic membrane

Dehydration of 1-butanol over the catalytic membrane was carried out in a tubular membrane reactor. The main products were 1-butene and trans- and cis-2-butene. From experiments it can be found that operating conditions had an obvious influence on conversion of 1-butanol and the active sites on the membrane surface had a remarkable effect on the selectivity of 1-butene.

Heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation of gas-phase organics for air purification: Acetone, 1-butanol, butyraldehyde, formaldehyde, and m-xylene oxidation

Photocatalyzed degradations of trace levels of various oxygenates and an aromatic in air were carried out using near-UV-illuminated titanium dioxide (anatase) powder. The initial rates of degradation for acetone, 1-butanol, formaldehyde, and m-xylene were well described by Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate forms. No reaction intermediates were detected for acetone oxidation at conversions of 5–20%. Butyraldehyde was the main product of 1-butanol oxidation for conversions of 20–30%. The influence of 5% water (simulating partial humidification) in the feedstream varied strongly: water vapor inhibited acetone oxidation, but had no influence on the 1-butanol conversion rate. m-Xylene conversion was enhanced by trace water addition, but inhibited at higher water levels. Some catalyst deactivation was detected between 1-butanol runs; the activity could be easily recovered by illuminating the catalyst in fresh air. Formaldehyde was also successfully oxidized. These results, taken together with earlier literature citations for photocatalyzed total oxidation of methane, ethane, trichloroethylene (but see (27)), toluene, and a very recent report for oxidation of odor compounds, indicate a favorable technical potential for photocatalyzed treatment of air in order to degrade and remove all major classes of oxidizable air contaminants.

Properties of Ni/Si0 2 catalysts: Relationship to ether formation from alcohols

The objective of this study was better understanding of the relationships among structural, chemical, and physical properties of Ni/SiO 2 and ether formation in the reaction of alcohols. The primary reactions investigated were those of the conversion of 1-butanol at 1 atm, 160°C and conversion <25%. Further characterization of catalyst acidic/metallic properties was conducted with 1,1-dimethylcyclopropane at 80°C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the chemical state of Ni in the various catalysts. Two series of catalysts were investigated: 0.7, 2.7, 4.7, and 8.5 wt% Ni/SiO 2 prepared by precipitation of basic NiCO 3 on the silica, and 4.8 and 6.0 wt% Ni/SiO, prepared by neutral impregnation with nickel nitrate. Various pretreatment and reduction conditions were investigated; for the 0.7–8.5% series it was found that the temperature of drying prior to reduction /reaction was an important variable. For the 8.5% catalyst, temperature of reduction also became an important factor. Study of the ether formation activities for various catalysts from both series, in conjunction with XPS investigation and 1-1 dimethylcyclopropane reactivity, indicated that the active site for ether formation is an acidic nickel silicate promoted by Ni(0). Ether formation is inversely related to surface-reduced Ni on these catalysts, thus it does not appear that large ensembles of zero-valent nickel play a significant role in the catalysis.

Reactions of alcohols: V. Conversion of alcohols to ethers over nickel and other transition metal catalysts in the presence of hydrogen

The reactions of primary alkanols have been investigated over reduced nickel oxide and other transition metal oxides and metals in the presence of a flow of hydrogen in a micropulse reactor. The temperature of reduction of nickel oxide greatly affects its catalytic activity and selectivity for the conversion of n-butanol to dibutyl ether. After 20 hr of reduction at 190 ° or after 1 hr of reduction at 300 ° the catalyst shows 50% reactivity and 90% selectivity for the conversion of butanol to dibutyl ether. The ether forming properties of the reduced nickel oxide were correlated with the intrinsic acidic sites of the catalyst. Both the activity and selectivity of the catalyst are impaired by the presence of pyridine. The selectivity of the nickel catalyst towards ether formation is also influenced by the amounts of butanol injected. An injection of at least 2–6 μl of butanol per 200 mg of catalyst is required for 80% selectivity for dibutyl ether formation. Of the transition metal catalysts, Ni, Ir, and Pd show good properties for the conversion of alcohols to ethers. Rh and Ru, under similar conditions act as dehydration and dehydrogenation catalysts, while cobalt acts only as a dehydrogenation catalyst.

Reactions of alcohols: VI. Dehydration of primary alkanols to ethers in a flow system over supported nickel catalysts in the presence of hydrogen. Effect of supports

Catalysts composed of 6% nickel deposited on silica, Cab-O-Sil, and alumina were found to be very effective for the conversion of primary alkanols to ethers at 160–190 ° in a flow system and in the presence of hydrogen. Nickel on magnesia, under similar conditions, had no catalytic activity. The effect of varying concentrations of nickel on Cab-O-Sil were investigated as catalysts for the conversion of butanol to dibutyl ether. Catalysts containing 7 to 37% nickel were found to be the most active and selective for this reaction. At 190 °, alumina as such was inert towards the conversion of neopentyl alcohol; however, in the presence of 6% nickel on alumina, 23% of the alcohol reacted and the product of the reaction contained 69% of dineopentyl ether and 2% of 1,1-dimethylcyclopropane. Nickel on Cab-O-Sil was found to be the most effective catalyst for the formation of ethers. The mechanism of dehydration is discussed.