Deactivation behaviour of modified ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts to conversion of ethanol: mechanism, control and monitoring

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wladimir Reschetilowski
• Subject Area: Technical Chemistry
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 269574272

Economical and ecological improvements within the chemical industry are expected from the promotion of bioethanol as carbon source; especially by combining its conversion with highly efficient petrol refining processes. An important step will probably be the independence from edible agricultural crop by application of technologies for fermentation of wood instead of food ingredients like sugar. Furthermore, this could smooth the transition for chemical companies from processing fossil oil to utilizing regenerative carbon sources.The conversion of ethanol (so-called ETH process) has been investigated and optimized from an experimental point of view for decades now. However, the potential of mathematical and molecular modelling is not fully exploited yet. The application of different models to H-ZSM-5 catalysts will probably lead to detailed insights into the interplay of physicochemical properties and reaction routes, which will render the synthesis of tailored catalysts possible.This project aims to achive a fundamental understanding of deactivation, coking and product formation behaviour of modified catalyst samples from a scientific and experimental viewpoint. This will allow for targeted modifications of the catalyst and reaction conditions to improve long-term stability and product fraction selectivity. As next step, addition of water to the ethanol feed will serve as indication of the catalyst's suitability in the conversion of bioethanol without preliminary rectification. Finally, usage of only mechanical pretreated fermentation broths of different origin will show the economic and energetic potential of a direct interaction between bioethanol and petrol chemistry.A few experiments with mixtures of ethene and water will complete the understanding of reactions routes inside the catalyst material. Ethene and water have a key role in this reaction because the dehydration of ethanol is the inevitable first step in the reaction mechanism.A solid understanding of the catalyst's properties is ensured by usage of solid-state as well as physicochemical characterization methods, catalytical tests on a microplant test-tube reactor as well as different methods of mathematical and molecular modelling.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants