High Performing and Stable Cu/NiAlOx Catalysts for the Continuous Catalytic Conversion of Ethanol into Butanol

The catalytic conversion of ethanol into butanol is one of crucial reactions in biorefinery for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. The development of highly durable non-noble metal-based catalysts is of great significance but poses big challenges. Herein, we prepared a series of NiAl-hydrotalcite derived Cu/NiAlOx catalysts via the hydrothermal precipitation method. Cu addition to the system shows an enhanced reactivity in the continuous catalytic conversion of ethanol into butanol. The 0.75 %Cu/NiAlOx catalyst afford a sustained ethanol conversion of similar to 35 % and butanol selectivity of similar to 45 % within 1000 h at 250 degrees C, 3 MPa N-2. Complementary characterization studies reveal that Cu addition into the catalysts could not only provide redox sites for facilitating the dehydrogenation/hydrogenation processes, but also modulate the base/acid property for suppressing the side reactions. The excellent stability might stem from the enhanced interaction between Cu and Ni species, as evidenced by EDX-mapping and H-2-TPR. We believe this work will help to rational design and develop of high-performing and durable non-noble metal catalysts for ethanol coupling to higher alcohols.