One-step synthesis of 2-pentanone from ethanol over K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst

A highly active and selective K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst for the one-step synthesis of 2-pentanone from ethanol is described. The possible reaction pathways for ethanol reaction over K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst were investigated by means of TPSR, CO2- and NH3-TPD techniques. The reactions were performed in a fixed bed continuous flow reactor. Complete conversion with high selectivity for 2-pentanone was observed under 370 ∼ 390 °C, 2 ∼ 4 MPa, GHSV = 8000 ∼ 10,000 h−1 and LHSV < 1.25 h−1 conditions. Ethanol reactions over K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst showed that the catalyst could catalyze dehydrogenation, aldol, dehydration and hydrogenation reactions. Both acidic and basic properties are found on the surface of K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst, whose multifunctionality with the combination of basic, acid and metal sites may be responsible for the efficiency of the K-Pd/MnOx-ZrO2-ZnO catalyst.