1,3-Butadiene Production Using Ash-Based Catalyst

The production of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol was carried out using ash as a catalyst in combination with Zr and Mg. The catalytic experiments were carried out at 350-400 degrees C with a different weight hourly space velocity (WHSV). The catalysts that were used were combined as follows: Ash, Ash:MgO (weight ratio 1:1), Ash:MgO (1:2), Ash:MgO (1:3), and Ash: MgO/ZrO2 (1:1:1). The characterization of the catalyst was carried out using BET, SEM, XRD, TGA, and XPS, respectively. The yield of 1,3-butadiene using bare ash was 65% at 400 degrees C and 2.5 h(-1) of WHSV. Using the Ash:MgO (1:2) catalyst led to an ethanol conversion rate of 79 % at 350 degrees C; the yield and selectivity of 1,3-butadiene were 48% and 87.8 %, respectively. Using the Ash:MgO(1:3) catalyst led to a 1,3-butadiene yield of 25% and a selectivity of 82% at 350 degrees C. The Ash:MgO(1:2) catalyst had a 1,3-butadiene yield of 50% and selectivity of 83%, and the Ash:MgO(1:1) had a 1,3-butadiene yield of 30% and selectivity of 80%, while the Ash:MgO/ZrO2 (1:1:1) catalyst had a 1,3-butadiene yield of 50% and selectivity of 90.8% at 2.5 h(-1) of WHSV.