(255g) Production of Olefins from Ethanol over Modified H-ZSM-5

Conversion of ethanol to olefins was investigated over H-ZSM-5 zeolite and its modification of addition P and the successive addition (P → Fe) and (P → Ni) in a tubular flow reactor at atmospheric pressure. Characterization was performed by UV-Vis, TG, XRD, S_BET, and IR spectroscopy of the surface OH groups and of adsorbed pyridine. Ethanol conversion using H-ZSM-5 produces diethyl ether and ethylene at low temperature with high selectivity to ethylene (more than 90% at 523 K) when conversion is already full. However, H-ZSM-5 is only zeolite that produces relevant selectivity to higher hydrocarbons such as olefins, paraffins and aromatics. The present investigation is performed with the aim to obtain better selectivity to propene and butene by modifying H-ZSM-5 zeolite. This can be a way to produce renewable propene from bio-ethanol.  High P content (6% wt P/wt) enhances the production of olefins, while Ni is more effective than Fe to increase propene production from ethanol. Maximum yield of propene is obtained at 23%.