ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the details behind the reaction mechanism and active site requirements for ethanol conversion to value-added chemicals, particularly focusing on hydrocarbons such as ethylene, C3–C4 olefins, and fuels. The presented knowledge implies the versatility of ethanol as a readily available feedstock in chemical industries and illustrates the complexities behind its catalytic conversion. The conversion of ethanol using zeolites can produce a variety of hydrocarbons including ethylene, C3–C4 olefins, and C5+. Reaction conditions, including temperature and residence time, as well as catalytic acidity can affect the product distribution significantly. The acidity of the catalytic surface can be relatively controlled by parameters such as Si/Al ratio, additives in zeolites, and water content in the feed. Thermodynamic assessment of ethylene to propylene has also shed light on the obstacles surrounding the ethanol conversion to propylene process that are not strictly limited to the catalyst itself.
