Conversion of biorenewably available acetone and butanol to liquid fuels using base catalysts

We studied acetone butylation over KF/Na-ZSM-5 and ZSM-5 impregnated with other K-compounds which impart basicity. These base catalysts have, so far, not been reported for ketone alkylation. These catalysts did not contain any metal any of metal which are conventionally used to affect dehydrogenation-hydrogenation reactions which have been reported to be involved in mechanism of acetone alkylation. Absence of such metals reduces catalyst costs and eliminates metal sintering. Catalyst basicity was determined by FTIR of pyrrole-adsorbed samples and CO 2 adsorption method. Coke deposited after reaction for 20 h time-on-stream on promising catalyst, namely, 10 wt% KF/Na-ZSM-5, was characterized by TGA and GCMS. This confirmed stability of KF on Na-ZSM-5, without leaching of F. Acetone conversion (60%) and ketone plus alcohol selectivity (exceeding 90%) surpassed reported performance at comparable operating conditions.