Continuous gas phase synthesis of 1-ethyl chloride from ethyl alcohol and hydrochloric acid over Al2O3-based catalysts: the ‘green’ route

• The synthesis of 1-ethyl chloride in the gas-phase mixture of ethanol and hydrochloric acid over ZnCl2/Al2O3 catalysts was studied in a continuous reactor using both commercial and tailor-made supports. The catalytic materials were characterized by the means of structural (XPS, TEM, XRD, and BET) and catalytic activity (selectivity and conversion) measurements. The reaction parameters such as temperature, pressure, and feedstock flow rates were optimized for the conversion of ethanol to ethyl chloride. The new tailor-made highly porous Al2O3-based catalyst outperformed its commercial counterpart by exhibiting high conversion and selectivity (98%) at the temperature of 325 °C. Long-term stability tests (240 h) confirmed the excellent durability of the tailor-made alumina catalysts. The process demonstrated here poses an efficient and economic “green” large-scale on-site synthesis of this industrially important reactant in industry, where bioethanol is produced and 1-ethyl chloride is necessary, e.g., for ethylation of cellulose and synthetic polymer products. On-site in situ production of ethyl chloride avoids the problems associated with the transportation and storage of toxic and flammable 1-ethyl chloride.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

ethyl chloride

ethanol

heterogeneous catalysis

zinc chloride

high-porosity aluminum oxide

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)