Copper-based catalysts for ethanol dehydrogenation and dehydrogenative coupling into hydrogen, acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate

Hydrogen is clean energy for the future and bio-hydrogen can be produced from bio-ethanol by dehydrogenation, and subsequent dehydrogenative coupling reactions. Two main products, acetaldehyde, and ethyl acetate, along with hydrogen are important industrial products from ethanol. In this work, we focus on the progress on the development of Cu-based catalysts for ethanol dehydrogenation and dehydrogenative coupling reactions The review discusses the effect of Cu charge, Cu particle size and dispersion, support, promoters and reaction conditions. This work found that the rate of ethanol consumption is different from the absolute ethanol conversion. Cu loading and Cu dispersion have a strong impact on the catalytic activity and the proper value are 10% and 20–60% for Cu loading and dispersion, respectively. The selectivity to acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate can be tailored by particle size, Cu oxidation, acidity/basicity of catalyst as well as contact time. This review will provide a full picture of the development of Cu-based catalysts for ethanol dehydration and has a significant impact on the field.