Abstract:

Infrared spectroscopy, XRD and pulse CO2 laser techniques have been employed to investigate the behaviors of laser stimulated surface reaction (LSSR) of ethanol oxidative coupling to 1,4-butanediol upon the surface of Cu2(PO4)(OH) which was prepared by the method of precipitation. A reaction mechanism of laser stimulated ethanol oxidative coupling on this solid surface and a model of energy transfer and relaxation in such a process are proposed on the basis of the experimental results.
In this paper, it has been shown that the LSSR is an excellent reaction technique for ethanol oxidative coupling to 1,4-butanediol. Under the conditions of atmospheric pressure and temperature of 200℃ with 1079cm-1 laser photon exciting the surface of Cu2(PO4)(OH) for 1000 times, the CH3CH2OH conversion is above 12% and the product is solely 1,4-butanediol.

Key words: Laser stimulated surface reaction, Oxidative coupling of ethanol, Synthesis of 1,4-butanediol, Reaction mechanism