Hierarchical Nanosized Silicalite-1 Supported ZnZr Catalysts for Catalytic Conversion of Ethanol to 1,3-Butadiene

The conversion of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene (ETB) as an economic strategy in chemical production still faces the challenge of relatively low yield of 1,3-butadiene (BD). Herein, a series of hierarchical nanosized xZnyZr/S-1 catalysts were prepared using ultrasonic-assisted crystallization followed by an incipient wetness impregnation method for the direct ETB reaction. The characterization results, including XRD, TEM, TEM-EDS, XPS, CO2-TPD, NH3-TPD, and Py-IR, indicate that the yield of BD is positively correlated with the nanohierarchical structure and appropriate acid–base properties as well as the synergistic effects of various active centers, and the 8Zn2Zr/S-1 catalyst with an optimal Zn/Zr mass ratio of 4:1 exhibits excellent ETB activity with an ethanol conversion of 82.9% and BD selectivity of 70.2% under mild reaction conditions (350 °C, 101.325 kPa, and 5 h–1).