Abstract: Etherification of 2-Methyl-Pentanal On Supported Palladium (2009 Annual Meeting)

Monday, November 9, 2009: 5:20 PM

Canal D (Gaylord Opryland Hotel)

Trung Pham, School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Center for Biomass Refining, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Richard G. Mallinson, School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Center for Biomass Refining, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Steven Crossley, School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Center for Biomass Refining, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Tawan Sooknoi, Chemistry, King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand

Lance L. Lobban, School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Center for Biomass Refining, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Daniel E. Resasco, School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, Center for Biomass Refining, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Dialkyl ethers can be selectively produced from etherification of 2-methyl-pentanal and other oxygenates on supported Pd catalysts. Selectivities of 90% ether were observed when feeding 2-methyl-pentanal and 2-methyl-pentanol at a molar ratio 1:1. Yields of up to 79 % have also been achieved. The reaction appears to be sensitive to metal particle features and molar feed ratios. Cross etherification of n-butanol and 2-methyl-pentanal has been studied to quantify the rates of etherification of self-condensation and cross condensation from alcohol plus aldehyde. It was found that cross etherification of alcohol and aldehyde has a much higher rate compared to etherification of alcohol or aldehyde feed alone.

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See more of this Session: Catalytic Biomass Conversion to Chemicals
See more of this Group/Topical: Fuels and Petrochemicals Division