LAUSR

Abstract In the present study, the catalytic dehydration of ethanol to obtain ethylene over efficiently top-down modified zeolites L was investigated at temperature range of 100–300 °C. It revealed that the nature of an acidic Si(OH)Al groups determined the catalytic activity of the studied materials. The alkaline/acid treated zeolites L accommodating solely the isolated Si(OH)Al groups exhibited the highest catalytic activity and selectivity to ethylene. Modification routes increasing population of the hydrogen bonded Si(OH)Al⋯O species reduced an activity of the catalysts. The most active catalyst yielded 99% of ethanol conversion having 96% of ethylene yield at 280 °C. Upon the stability test for 30 h during the reaction, the modified zeolite L showed neither formation of higher hydrocarbons nor deactivation due to carbon deposition.