Guerbet Process Hydroformylation Fermentation

Reactants Ethanol and Water Propylene and syn gas Acetone, butanol, ethanol
(mixture of CO and H2 and water
Reaction type Reversible Irreversible Irreversible
Reactions At first, ethanol is At first stage, A mixture of acetone,
dehydrogenated to propylene gas and syn butanol and ethanol in
acetaldehyde, gas are pressurized and water, also known as ABE
which then bubbled through liquid is produced by
undergoes aldol phase of catalyst to metabolism pathway of
condensation with form butanal by bacteria Clostridium
another molecule hydroformylation. Acetobutylicum.
of acetaldehyde to Then, butanal along
form with unreacted H2 and
crotonaldehyde. CO enter the second
Finally, the reactor to be
crotonaldehyde is hydrogenated into
doubly butanol.
hydrogenated to
form n-butanol.
Chemical Ethanol+Water Acetone+Butanol+Ethanol
Equation →Butanol → Butanol(Fuel Grade)

Catalyst Bifunctional First reactor: Sr–P hydroxyapatite catalyst

iridium catalyst Rh/TPP liquid catalyst
coupled with bulky Second reactor:
nickel or copper Shvo’s catalyst
hydroxides,
Hydroxyapatite
(HAP)
Selectivity 99% 19 Selectivity of butanol is
around 2
Conversion Conversion of First reactor: Conversion by mass of
ethanol is 7.6% Conversion of feedstock is 20% for
propylene can reach wheat straw as feedstock
over 85%
Second reactor:
Convert butanal into
butanol, with 95-98%
conversion
Temperature 603K First reactor: 363-383K Room Temperature
Second reactor: 413K
Molar ratio 95%EtOH, 5%H2O 1 kmol of propylene : 1 wheat straw:2 butanol
3.33 kmol of syngas.
Syngas:
60% H2, 30% CO, 5%
CH4, 5% CO2
Pressure 0.057 bar First reactor: 7 bar Atmospheric pressure
Second reactor: 4.5 bar
Safety and Low Low Medium
health risk
Profit margin 0.591 1.21 0.636