Bifunctional catalysts for conversion of synthesis gas to dimethyl ether

• Published in: Applied catalysis. A, General Vol. 167; no. 1; pp. 23 - 30
• Main Authors: Ge, Qingjie, Huang, Youmei, Qiu, Fengyan, Li, Shuben
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 05.02.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bifunctional catalyst; Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; Dehydration component; Dimethyl ether; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Preparation method; Synthesis gas; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Preparation method; Dimethyl ether; Bifunctional catalyst; Dehydration component; Synthesis gas; Mixed catalyst; Catalytic reaction; Fixed bed reactor; Zinc Oxides; Zeolite; X ray diffraction; Supported catalyst; Molecular sieve; Catalytic conversion; Copper Oxides; Heterogeneous catalysis; Aluminium Oxides; Photoelectron spectrometry; Catalyst activity; Catalyst
• ISSN: 0926-860X; 1873-3875
• DOI: 10.1016/S0926-860X(97)00290-1

The effects of preparation methods and dehydration components on catalytic properties and the structures of bifunctional catalysts were investigated. Catalytic synthesis of dimethyl ether from synthesis gas was evaluated in a fixed-bed flow microreactor at a pressure of 4.0 MPa and a GHSV of 1500 h −1. Characterization of catalysts has been carried out using XRD, TPR, Pyridine-TPD, CO 2-TPD and XPS. The experimental results show that CuO ZnO Al 2O 3/HZSM-5 and CuO ZnO Al 2O 3/HSY catalysts, which were prepared by a coprecipitating sedimentation method, exhibit the highest catalytic activity for direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from synthesis gas with 89% CO conversion and 99% selectivity of dimethyl ether (in organic products). In addition, the results indicate that the dehydration step of the reaction occurs on the weak acidic sites and there is a ‘synergistic effect’ between the two kinds of active components in bifunctional catalysts.