The role of MPV reaction in the synthesis of propene from ethanol through the acetone route

Physical mixtures of AgCeO2 and ZrO2/SiO2 were employed in the ethanol conversion to propene in the presence of water through the acetone route. The oxides were characterized by XRD, N2 physical adsorption, isopropanol dehydration/ dehydrogenation and ethanol to acetone MPV model reactions. The mixtures were tested under different WHSVs and temperatures. This study presents new perspectives for the propene synthesis from ethanol. MPV reduction and dehydration are both important for the overall reaction. Understanding how to balance these reactions is an important step towards the synthesis of new catalysts able to produce propene from ethanol, with high selectivity to propene.