In the global effort to reduce fossil fuel reliance, green ethylene is being produced through vapor phase catalytic dehydration of bio-ethanol. This project studied the benefits of ethanol dehydration with zeolite ZSM-5 in the liquid phase. Process variables manipulated were phase, feed flowrate ratio, and volume-hourly space velocity. Through gas chromatography, it was determined that liquid phase dehydration had comparable ethanol conversion and superior ethylene production on a per gram of catalyst basis. Further investigation of process variables is recommended.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Coffey, Jennifer Ann
• Zitoli, Alexander Joseph

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042816-112907

Advisor

• Timko, Michael T.

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright