2-1-3　Space-Confined-Self-Regulation Mechanism from Capsule Catalyst to Realize an Ethanol Direct Synthesis Strategy

Abstract

Capsule catalyst, being composed of catalytic zeolite membrane and catalyst core, can accomplish multiple catalysis reactions or several organic synthesis reactions in a single step, enhancing energy efficiency, erasing unnecessary separation engineering and creating many unexpected synergistic effects via tandem catalysis. This report discloses an ethanol synthesis strategy from syngas (CO+H₂) and syngas-derived dimethyl ether (DME) by a tailor-made catalyst with a macroscopic capsule structure. As the methanol byproduct can be easily recycled to DME as reactant via simple dehydration reaction, ethanol selectivity can reach 100% theoretically. It is demonstrated that a space-confined-self-regulation (SCSR) mechanism derived from macroscopic capsule structure serves as a multifunctional switch to manipulate tandem reactions: arranging reaction steps in a favorable order and depressing side-reactions simultaneously.