Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1985, 50, 1834-1841
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19851834

Mechanism of the dehydration of 1-butanol over zeolites

O. Olaofe and P. L. Yue

School of Chemical Engineering, Bath University, Great Britain

Abstract

The product distribution from the dehydration of 1-butanol over zeolites (13X, 4A, ZNa) has been investigated to gain insight of the reaction mechanism. The formation of 2-alkenes (cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene) in the absence of isomerization reactions during the catalytic dehydration of 1-butanol over zeolites is unambiguous evidence in favour of a positively charged intermediate, indicating that reaction proceeds via a E1 type of mechanism. Experimental data also showed the preferential formation of cis-2-butene over that of trans-2-butene. The predominance of E1 type mechanism increases with increasing temperature.