Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this paper, we investigated the effect of alcohol solvents (ethanol, n-propanol, and n-butanol) and isomeric alcohol solvents (iso-propanol, iso--butanol, and tert-butanol). In addition, we observed the effect of the mixed alcohol solvents on the particle formation as using a mixture od ethanol and butanol at a ratio od 30/70, 50/50 and 70/30 vol %, respectively. In case of ethanol solvent, particle size of silica showed the smallest and the narrowest size distribution among the various solvent. On the contrary, for the n-butanol solvent, largest broad distribution of particle size was observed. For the synthesis of particles having better spherical morphology and less agglomeration, alcohol solvent having no branches was considered appropriate. When mixed alcohol solvents were used, large silica particles with narrow size distribution were obtained, regardless of the ratio. 8 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Promising approaches to produce higher alcohols, e.g., isobutanol, using Escherichia coli have been developed with successful results. Here, we translated the isobutanol process from shake flasks to a 1-L bioreactor in order to characterize three E. coli strains. With in situ isobutanol removal from the bioreactor using gas stripping, the engineered E. coli strain (JCL260) produced more than 50?g/L in 72?h. In addition, the isobutanol production by the parental strain (JCL16) and the high isobutanol-tolerant mutant (SA481) were compared with JCL260. Interestingly, we found that the isobutanol-tolerant strain in fact produced worse than either JCL16 or JCL260. This result suggests that in situ product removal can properly overcome isobutanol toxicity in E. coli cultures. The isobutanol prod...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This article concerns the synergetic effects between an MoO{sub 3} sample composed of crystallites exposing preferentially the (010) basal faces and {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 4} in the oxygen-assisted dehydration of 2-butanol at 220 C. The conversion of 2-butanol and the yield to butene improved when MoO{sub 3} was reacted in the presence of {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 4}. The origin of the synergism is discussed. When reacted in the absence of {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 4}, MoO{sub 3} got over-reduced and fragmented to MoO{sub 2}. MoO{sub 2} is intrinsically less active than MoO{sub 3} thus explaining that the deep reduction of MoO{sub 3} corresponds to its tendency to deactivate. In the presence of {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 4}, the formation of MoO{sub 2} is inhibited with, as a consequence, the absence of deactivation. This leads to the synergetic effects obtained with the mechanical mixture of MoO{sub 3} with ...

Science.gov (United States)

Catalytic testing of inorganic catalysts was continued with the highly active sulfate-modified zirconia catalyst prepared here. Using isobutanol as the only reactant over this catalyst, it was demonstrated that high conversion and selectivity to isobutene was achieved at 175[degrees]C. In addition, the high selectivity to isobutene, i.e. 79--86 mol%, was maintained at higher space velocities and higher temperatures. A high productivity of 11.35 mol isobutene was achieved at 225[degrees]C. Utilizing a methanol/isobutanol = 2/1 molar ratio reactant mixture over the ZrO[sub 2]/SO[sub 4][sup 2[minus

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

As stated last quarter, we discovered potassium as an impurity in the mixed metal oxides. The potassium was probably incorporated into the solid during the coprecipitation using K{sub 2}CO{sub 3}. Currently NH{sub 4}OH is being used as the precipitating base. We have discovered that the precipitation agent influences the surface composition of the mixed-metal oxides. Chemical analysis of the surface and bulk compositions showed significant differences in surface compositions of the K{sub 2}CO{sub 3} and NH{sub 4}OH precipitated catalysts. In TPR experiments we have discovered that the precipitating pH markedly affects the reducibility of the ZnMnCr oxides. This shows that the choice of base as well as the pH strongly affects the surface composition of the mixed metal catalysts. Additional studies are in progress in which we are studying how the precipitating agents affect the surface composition of the mixed metal oxide catalysts and how the different surface compositions affect their ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

After a lot of efforts to develop a spark-ignition type dual-fuel engine which can separately use both gas and liquid fuels, a dual-fuel engine which uses ethanol as a liquid fuel has been developed. In this paper, a 13A/LPG dual-fuel engine which uses LPG as an emergency fuel is also introduced. During the development of a dual-fuel engine using city gas (13A)/liquid fuel such 4 kinds of liquid fuel as kerosene, gasoline, ethanol and isobutanol have been examined. As a result of testing, it was proved that ethanol is preferable and a 13A/ethanol DF engine can be used as a generator of different outputs, 100KW for normal service and 70KW for emergency service, without any problems in practical use. On the other hand, a city gas (13A)/LPG dual-fuel engine requires the modification of the fuel feed system and the installation of a ignition device which can change the ignition timing by means of the fuel changeover. (6 figs, 5 tabs)