Process for the production of 1,3-butadiene

1. A process for the production of 1,3-butadiene, the process comprising

i) providing a supported catalyst comprising lanthanum, zirconium, and zinc, wherein the support comprises silica; and

ii) contacting a feed comprising ethanol with the supported catalyst to produce a raw product comprising 1,3-butadiene.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein contacting ii) takes place at a temperature in a range of 300 to 425° C.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein contacting ii) takes place at a weight hourly space velocity of 0.2-7 h −1 .

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the feed further comprises acetaldehyde.

5. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising

iii) separating the raw product into a first portion comprising 1,3-butadiene and a second portion comprising acetaldehyde.

6. The process according to claim 5 , wherein at least part of the second portion is recycled into the feed.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a process for producing the supported catalyst comprises:

a) impregnating a support comprising silica with a salt of lanthanum, a salt of zirconium, and a salt of zinc;

b) drying the impregnated support of step a); and

c) calcining the dried impregnated support of step b).

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a process for producing the supported catalyst comprises:

a) impregnating a support comprising silica with a salt of lanthanum;

b) drying the impregnated support of step a);

c) calcining the dried impregnated support of step b);

d) impregnating the calcined dried impregnated support of step c) with a salt of zirconium and a salt of zinc;

e) drying the impregnated support of step d); and

f) calcining the dried impregnated support of step e).