The ethanol to acetaldehyde conversion activated by microwave radiation

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.