Flow reactor synthesis of cetane-enhancing fuel additive from 1-butanol

Abstract The catalytic dehydration of 1-butanol on γ-alumina, zeolites, and Amberlyst ion-exchange resins for the production of di- n- butyl ether (DBE) in a fixed-bed flow reactor was studied at 130–300 °C and 1–70 bar. The activity and selectivity of the catalysts were evaluated, and the effects of operating parameters ( T , p , and VHSV ) on the kinetics of the test reaction were studied for the most active catalyst samples. Based on mass balance data, a conclusion was made that zeolites and Amberlyst ion exchangers are suitable catalysts for DBE production from 1-butanol; at a feed conversion of about 70%, selectivity for DBE was 90%. These DBE yields are reported for the first time to be obtained in a fixed-bed flow reactor.