Simultaneous dehydration, dimerization, and metathesis of c2-c5 alcohols

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a single stage process for the direct conversion of alcohols, e.g. ethanol, to olefinic mixtures (C-C) with low levels of aromatics carried out in a single reactor with two fixed catalyst beds in series, or two catalytic fixed bed reactors in series wherein the first reactor operates at a lower or higher temperature than the operating temperature of the second reactor. The process transformation of ethanol is comprised of ethanol dehydration to ethylene and water in high yield with the first catalyst in the first reactor, or via the first fixed catalyst bed, followed by directly feeding the ethylene and water to the second reactor, or second fixed catalyst bed, with conversion of said ethylene and water to a C-Colefinic mixture with the second catalyst(s) in high yields with minimal aromatic compound formation.