| abstract |
There is provided a process for converting diluted ethanol to ethylene which comprises heating an ethanol-containing fermentation broth thereby to vaporize a mixture of ethanol and water and contacting said vaporized mixture with a ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst selected from the group consisting of a ZSM-5 zeolite having a Si/Al atomic ratio of from 5 to 75 which has been treated with steam at a temperature ranging from 400 DEG to 800 DEG C. for a period of from 1 to 48 hours; a ZSM-5 zeolite having a Si/Al atomic ratio of from 5 to 50 and wherein La or Ce ions have been incorporated in a weight percentage of 0.1 to 1.0% by ion exchange or in a weight percentage ranging from 0.1 to 5% by impregnation, and a ZSM-5 zeolite having a Si/Al of from 5 to 50 and impregnated with a 0.5 to 7% wt % of triflic acid, and recovering the ethylene thus produced. |