Conversion of ethanol to a reaction product comprising 1-butanol using hydroxyapatite catalysts

摘要

Catalytic processes to produce a reaction product comprising 1-butanol by contacting a reactant comprising ethanol with a catalyst composition under suitable reaction conditions are provided. The catalyst composition may comprise a hydroxyapatite of the Formula (MwM′xM″yM′″z)5(PO4)3(OH), wherein M is Mg; M′ is Ca; M″ is Sr; M′″ is Ba; w is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; x is any number from 0 to less than 0.5; y is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; z is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; and w+x+y+z=1. Base-treated catalyst compositions may be used. Also provided are processes for contacting an initial catalyst composition comprising the hydroxyapatite with a base to produce a base-treated catalyst composition, and the base-treated catalyst compositions so obtained.

主权项

1. A process comprising the step of:
contacting a reactant comprising ethanol with a base-treated catalyst composition under suitable reaction conditions to produce a reaction product comprising 1-butanol; wherein the suitable reaction conditions include a temperature of about 150° C. to about 500° C. and a pressure from about 0.1 MPa to about 20.7 MPa; and wherein the base-treated catalyst composition is obtained by treating an initial catalyst composition comprising a hydroxyapatite of Formula (I):
(MwM′xM″yM′″z)5(PO4)3(OH)  (I)wherein
M is Mg; M′ is Ca; M″ is Sr; M′″ is Ba; w is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; x is any number from 0 to less than 0.5; y is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; z is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; and w+x+y+z=1with a base at a treatment temperature from about 25° C. to about 300° C. for a treatment time of about 1 minute to about 24 hours, and optionally washing the base-treated catalyst composition with a minimal amount of water.