Gas-phase photocatalytic synthesis of acetaldehyde from ethanol: Thermodynamic evaluation and comparison with photocatalytic activity

This work is focused on the thermodynamic evaluation as a preliminary step for the photocatalytic partial oxidation of organic compounds aimed to the synthesis of high valued chemicals. The comparison of thermodynamic data with the experimental ones for the partial oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde have been discussed and connected to the kinetics of the photoreaction system. Experimental data has shown the influence of the reaction temperature and the contact time in the distribution of the reaction products. Interesting is the control on the products distribution induced by the contact time, which drives towards the thermodynamic expectations, when it is high. The choice of the appropriate contact time in the photocatalytic reaction permits to get the desired product with the highest yield.