
253Processes for Production of Chemicals from Carbohydrates
observed. Morschbacker cites a number of by-products besides diethyl ether that
have been observed in ethanol dehydration: acetic acid, ethyl acetate, acetone, meth-
anol, methane, ethane, propane, propylene, n-butane, butylene isomers, hydrocar-
bons with 5 carbons or more, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
98
By-products
formed from ethanol can in some cases still be converted to the desired ethylene,
for example diethyl ether (reaction 3, Figure 9.16). Other side products such as the
oligomerization to butylenes and the dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde and hydrogen
are losses that ...