On the selective transformation of ethanol over Mg- and/or La-containing mixed oxides catalysts

MgO-La2O3 catalysts with different Mg/La molar ratio have been synthesized by precipitation method and a subsequent calcination and then, the catalysts were characterized by x-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms at -196 ºC, CO2-and NH3-thermoprogrammed desorption and x-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy. The coexistence of acid and basic sites promotes the selective transformation of ethanol into valuable products. Thus, MgO catalyst promotes the Guerbet reaction obtaining n-butanol as product while the incorporation of La2O3 in the catalytic system improves the ethanol conversion notably, obtaining ethylene as main product due to a dehydration reaction. The highest ethylene yield was obtained for the catalyst with a Mg/La molar ratio of 1.