On the selective transformation of ethanol over Mg- and/or La-containing mixed oxides catalysts

[EN] MgO-La2O3 catalysts with different Mg/La molar ratio were synthesized by a precipitation method and a subsequent calcination and then characterized by x-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (at-196 degrees C), CO2- and NH3-thermoprogrammed desorption and x-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy. The coexistence of acid and basic sites promoted the selective transformation of ethanol into valuable products. Thus, MgO catalyst promoted the Guerbet reaction obtaining n-butanol as product while the incorporation of La2O3 in the catalytic system improved the ethanol conversion notably, obtaining ethylene as the main product due to a dehydration reaction. The highest ethylene yield was obtained for the catalyst with a Mg/La molar ratio of 1.