Selective production of 1,3-butadiene in the dehydration of 1,4-butanediol over rare earth oxides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.apcata.2018.05.029

Vapor-phase dehydration of 1,4-butanediol and 3-buten-1-ol to produce 1,3-butadiene was investigated over rare earth oxides such as Lu₂O₃, Yb₂O₃, Tm₂O₃, Er₂O₃, and Sc_1.0Yb_1.0O₃. In the dehydration of 3-buten-1-ol, heavy rare earth oxides such as Lu₂O₃, Yb₂O₃, and Er₂O₃ showed high catalytic performance for the selective formation of 1,3-butadiene with producing small amount of propylene whereas acidic catalysts such as alumina decomposed 3-buten-1-ol into propylene. In particular, over Yb₂O₃ calcined at 800 °C, 3-buten-1-ol was converted with a yield of 1,3-butadiene higher than 95% at 340 °C. In the dehydration of 1,4-butanediol, furthermore, we developed an efficient catalytic system: 1,3-butadiene was produced via an intermediate, 3-buten-1-ol, over Yb₂O₃ with an excellent yield of 96% at 360 °C and a high contact time of 2.26 h. Yb₂O₃ successfully inhibited the major side reaction such as decomposition of 3-buten-1-ol to propylene and provided the selective production of 1,3-butadiene from 1,4-butanediol.