The ethanol to acetaldehyde conversion activated by microwave radiation

Abstract

The reaction of nonoxidative conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde under conditions of thermal and microwave heating was studied on mixed ZnO—CuO—SiO₂ oxide catalysts modified with additives of Nb and Ta carbides. It is suggested that microwave heating promotes the appearance of “hot” zones at points where the metal-rich nanoparticles of metal carbides intensively absorbing the microwave energy contact active sites of the mixed oxide catalyst ZnO—CuO—SiO₂. Formation of these zones increases ethanol conversion and selectivity for acetaldehyde at moderate (<300°C) temperatures.