Development of structured catalysts for the synthesis of 1,3-butadiene based on bio-ethanol

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Alternative production routes of bulk chemicals based on biomass allow integrating renewable feedstocks into established value chains. Existing infrastructure can be used and economic constrains involved in the utilization of renewable feedstocks can be reduced. The direct transformation of fermentation derived ethanol to 1,3-butadiene presents a promising approach. Studies concerning the transformation of pure ethanol provide valuable insights into the influence of catalyst properties on the observed activity and selectivity. For the transformation of bioethanol into 1,3-butadiene in the presence of large amounts of water, a fundamental understanding of structure-activity relations to enable a knowledge-driven design of catalysts of sufficient activity, selectivity and stability is missing. Additionally, studies indicate an influence of the pore structure of the catalyst and superior results in fluidized bed reactors compared to packed beds suggesting mass transfer limitations. This project aims for the development of novel structure catalysts and an insight into fundamental structure-activity relations with special emphasis on bioethanol as substrate with a water content of up to 85%. The aim of the project is to establish the base of a knowledge driven catalyst development and to reduce mass transfer effects applying catalysts with tailor-made pore structure in the nanometer range.