Catalytic performance of ternary Mg-Al-Ce oxides for ethanol conversion into 1-butanol in a flow reactor

An investigation of hydrotalcite-derived ternary Mg-Al-Ce oxides as catalysts for vapour phase condensation of ethanol to 1-butanol in a flow reactor under atmospheric pressure was carried out. The Mg-Al-Ce oxide systems with Mg/(Al + Ce) ratio from 1 to 4 were synthesized and characterized by XRD, SEM, NMR, and XPS. The study of acid-base characteristics of the systems with different Mg/(Al+Ce) ratio by NH₃/CO₂ quasi-equilibrium thermal desorption techniques shows that the ratio of the catalyst oxide components (Mg, Al, Ce) can provide acid/base capacity ratio close to 3 for the effectivity of the target process. The highest selectivity 68% is reached over Mg-Al-Ce oxide catalyst with the ratio of Mg/(Al+Ce) = 2.