Dehydration of 2,3-butanediol to produce 1,3-butadiene over Sc2O3 catalyst prepared through hydrothermal aging.

Vapor-phase catalytic dehydration of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) to form 1,3-butadiene (BD) via 3-buten-2-ol (3B2OL) was studied over various single metal oxide catalysts. Among the catalysts, Sc 2 O 3 prepared under hydrothermal (HT) conditions at 200 °C followed by 800 °C calcination showed the most excellent catalytic activity. The crystallization of precursor ScOOH during HT aging noticeably enhances the catalytic activity of the resulting Sc 2 O 3 for the formation of 3B2OL in the dehydration of 2,3-BDO. The formation rate of 3B2OL from 2,3-BDO over the HT-aged Sc 2 O 3 was twice as high as Sc 2 O 3 without HT aging. Calcination temperatures of Sc 2 O 3 are also important: calcination at 800 °C is efficient for the selective formation of 3B2OL from 2,3-BDO. The HT-aged Sc 2 O 3 also showed an excellent catalytic activity for the formation of BD with the yield higher than 80% in the dehydration of 2,3-BDO at 411 °C. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]