Elucidation of Pd modification effect on catalytic behaviors of gamma-Al2O3-P catalysts toward ethanol dehydration and dehydrogenation

The catalytic ethanol dehydration and dehydrogenation over gamma-Al2O3-P catalysts with Pd modification were investigated. The Al2O3-P is promising to obtain the highest yield of diethyl ether (ca. 38.4%) at 350 degrees C attributing to increased portion of weak/moderate to strong acid site. Further investigation was conducted with Pd modification on this catalyst. It revealed that the 0.5Pd/Al2O3-P catalyst produced diethyl ether yield of ca. 33.3% at 350 degrees C with significant amount of acetaldehyde at low temperature. Increased reaction temperature to 400 degrees C obtained the highest ethylene yield (ca. 43.7%) with this catalyst because of both acid site and Pd site.