Catalytic Transformation of Ethanol to Industrially Relevant Fine Chemicals

The industrial developments in the nineteenth century was due to coal energy, while oil contributed majorly in the twentieth century. However, a question about future energy source remains unanswered. With increased population, rapid industrialization, and rising concerns for environment preventative measures, total dependence on fossil fuel resources is not viable. Hence, immediate attention is required to develop green and sustainable resource, thus stimulating research into biomass as an alternative to conventional sources. After coal, oil, and gas, biomass is world’s fourth largest energy source and is estimated to be equivalent about 14% of global primary energy. There is a need to recognize a suitable species derived from biomass, which can produce valuable chemicals in order to mitigate dependency on fossil resources. Bioethanol is one of such biomass-derived platform solvents with a potential to be used as a fuel and a sustainable feedstock of a variety of chemicals. This chapter deals with the conversion of ethanol to many value-added chemicals such as acetaldehyde, acetic acid, acetone, ethylene, butanol, 1,3-butadiene, and ethyl acetate through catalytic routes. It also discusses the role of supports, metal–support interactions, oxygen storage capacity, acidity and basicity of catalyst in the product distribution, and catalytic activity. The challenges and prospects of ethanol conversion to different chemicals are also described.