Conversion of Ethanol into a Fraction of C3+ Hydrocarbons in the Presence of Gold-Containing Catalysts Based on a Zeolite MFI Support

The results of a study on the activity and operational stability of an Au–Pd/MFI/Al₂O₃ catalyst in the reaction of ethanol conversion into a gasoline fraction of hydrocarbons are reported. In the presence of the Au–Pd/MFI/Al₂O₃ catalyst, ethanol was almost completely converted into an alkane–aromatic fraction of C₃–C₁₁ hydrocarbons at 300°C in an atmosphere of Ar; the yield of this fraction was as high as 90% on a feed carbon basis. It was established that, in the presence of the bimetallic Au–Pd catalyst, the yield of the target fraction increased by 10%, as compared with that on a monometallic Au-containing sample. The Au–Pd/MFI/Al₂O₃ catalyst exhibited much higher stability in a long-term experiment in comparison with the previously tested pilot sample of Pd–Zn/MFI/Al₂O₃. After a 40-h operation, the yield of the target fraction of C₃₊ hydrocarbons in the presence of the Au–Pd/MFI/Al₂O₃ catalyst decreased by 15%. The treatment of the catalyst with hydrogen led to the complete restoration of its activity. The structure of the Au–Pd active constituents was studied by transmission electron microscopy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. methods of the and microscopy.