Mechanism of Ethanol Conversionover 5% CuO/ZrO<sub>2</sub> Catalyst According to in situ IR Spectroscopy
By means of IR spectroscopy in situ formation of surface intermediates such as etoxi groups, acetate complexes as well as condensation products were detected during ethanol conversion over 5% CuО/ZrO<sub>2</sub> catalyst. No surface formiate complexes were observed under reaction conditions. Acetic aldehyde, acetone, CO<sub>2</sub> and ethylene were detected as main reaction products of ethanol conversion. Also, small amounts of hydrogen, butene and toluene are formed. It was shown that formation of acetic aldehyde proceeds via interaction of etoxy groups and hydroxyl groups at the catalyst surface while formation of acetone, toluene and butene is result of condensation products conversion at the surface. Low rate of hydrogen formation is due to absence high temperature formiate species at the catalyst surface.