Ethylene production from diluted bioethanol solutions

The possibility to exploit diluted bioethanol solutions for ethylene production has been evaluated as a step towards an integrated biorefinery concept. After a preliminary thermodynamic investigation, proper operating conditions have been selected to maximize ethylene productivity and limit side products such as coke, DME and higher olefins. The attention was focused on the possibility to operate with diluted 2nd generation bioethanol (50 vol %), which represents a promising and convenient raw material, obtainable by simplified concentration of the fermentation broth. Several BEA zeolite catalysts have been compared, characterized by different acidity imparted by de-alumination treatments. Ni addition has been also explored as a way to tune steam reforming and ethanol dehydration activity.