Abstract
The concept of a biorefinery for higher-alcohol production is to integrate ethanol and methanol formation via fermentation and biomass gasification, respectively, with, conversion of these simple alcohol intermediates into higher alcohols via the Guerbet reaction. 1-Butanol results from the selfcondensation of ethanol in this multistep reaction occurring on a single catalytic bed. Combining methanol with ethanol gives a mixture of propanol, isobutanol, and 2-methyl-1-butanol. All of these higher alcohols are usefulas solvents, chemical intermediates, and fuel additives and, consequently, have higher market values than the simple alcohol intermediates. Several new catalysts for the condensation of ethanol and alcohol mixtures to higher alcohols were designed and tested under a variety of conditions. Reactions of methanol ethanol mixtures gave as high as 100% conversion of the ethanol to form high yields of isobutanol with smaller amounts of 1-propanol, the amounts in the mixture depending on the starting mixture. The most successful catalysts are multifunctional with basic and hydrogen transfer components.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dvornikoff, M. N. and Farrar, M. W. J. (1957), Org. Chem. 22, 540–542.
Radlowski, C. A. (1994), US patent no, 5,364, 979.
Mueller, G. (1998), US patent no. 5,777,183.
Hagen, G. P. (1992), US patent no. 5,159,125.
Vanderspurt, T. H., (1996), US patent no. 5,493,064.
Young, D. A. (1991), US patent no. 5,068,469.
Barger, P. T. (1996), US patent no. 5,559,275.
Matsuda, M. (1985), US patent no. 4,518,810.
Clark R. T. (1976), US patent no. 3,972,952.
Yates, J. E. (1976), US patent no. 3,979,466.
Utamapanya, S., Klabunde, K. J., and Schlup, J. R. (1991), Am. Chem. Soc. 3, 175–181.
Parmaliana, A., Arena, F., Frusteri, F., and Glordano, N. J. (1990), Chem. Soc. Feraday Trans. 6(4), 2663–2669.
Choudhary, V. R. and Pandit, M. Y. (1991), Appl. Catal. 71, 265–274.
Ueda, W., Kuwabara, T., Ohshida, T., and Morikawa, Y. (1990) J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1558–1559.
Fuchs, O. (1936). US patent no. 2,050,788.
Radlowski, C. A., and Hagen, G. P. (1992), US patent no. 5,095,156.
Radlowski, C. A., Hagen, G. P., Grimes, L. E., and Tatterson, D. F. (1994), US patent no. 5,364,979.
Radlowski, C. A. (1994), US patent no. 5,300,695.
Vanderspurt, T. H., Grenney, M. A., Leta, D. P, Koveal, R. J., Disko, M. M. Klaus, A. V., Behal, S. K., and Harris, R. B. (2000), US patent no. 6,034,141.
Vanderspurt, T. H. (1998), US patent no. 5,811,602.
Carlini, C., Di-Girolamo, M., Macinai, A., Marchionna, M., Noviello, M., Galletti, A. M. R., and Sbrana, G., (2003), J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 206, 409–418.
Carlini, C., Macinai, A., Marchionna, M., Noviello, M., Galletti, A. M. R., and Sbrana, G. (2003), J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 200, 137–146.
Klabunde, K. J., Stark, J., Kopper, O., Mohs, C., Park, D. G., Decker, S., Jiang, Y., Lagadic, I., and Zhang, D. (1996), J. Phys. Chem. 100, 12,142–12,153.
Olson, E. S., Aulich, T. R., Sharma, R. K., and Timpe, R. C. (2003), Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 105–108, 843–851.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olson, E.S., Sharma, R.K. & Aulich, T.R. Higher-alcohols biorefinery. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 115, 913–932 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1385/ABAB:115:1-3:0913
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/ABAB:115:1-3:0913