Efficient synthesis of dimethyl ether over HZSM-5 supported on medium-surface-area beta-SiC foam

ChemSusChem. 2008;1(10):851-7. doi: 10.1002/cssc.200800024.

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to produce a highly selective and stable catalyst for the production of dimethyl ether by methanol dehydration. The activities were compared of different active phases of the employed system, zeolite HZSM-5 or gamma-alumina, supported on silicon carbide as foam, and it was found that the supported zeolite catalysts are more active than and as selective as the alumina-based catalysts. The as-prepared zeolite/SiC composites reveal good stability in long-term tests in the presence or absence of steam. The high stability is attributed to the presence of highly dispersed micrometer-sized zeolite particles, which make the active sites more accessible to the reactants and promote the quick transfer of the desired product, dimethyl ether, out of the catalyst bed, minimizing deactivation of the catalyst.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Dehydration
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Methanol / chemistry
  • Methyl Ethers / chemical synthesis*
  • Methyl Ethers / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Porosity
  • Silicon Compounds / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Viscoelastic Substances / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction
  • Zeolites / chemistry*

Substances

  • Carbon Compounds, Inorganic
  • Methyl Ethers
  • Silicon Compounds
  • Viscoelastic Substances
  • Zeolites
  • dimethyl ether
  • silicon carbide
  • Methanol