Catalytic dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether over modified gamma -Al sub(2)O sub(3) catalyst

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 90; no. 5; pp. 1738 - 1742
• Main Authors: Liu, Dianhua, Yao, Chunfeng, Zhang, Jianqiang, Fang, Dingye, Chen, Dasheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2011
• Subjects: Catalysts; Chemical reactions; Diffraction; Dimethyl ether; Metal oxides; Methyl alcohol; Surface area; Synthesis; X-rays
• ISSN: 0016-2361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2011.01.038

A gamma -Al sub(2)O sub(3) catalyst was modified with metal oxide (Nb sub(2)O sub(5)) in order to improve its activity and stability for dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis from methanol. A series of modified gamma -Al sub(2)O sub(3) catalysts were prepared with Nb sub(2)O sub(5) and characterized by X-ray diffraction and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia. Results showed that the gamma -Al sub(2)O sub(3) catalyst containing 10 wt.% of Nb sub(2)O sub(5) exhibited the highest surface area among the modified ones. The number of acid sites of the modified catalysts was increased by the Nb sub(2)O sub(5) modification. In the chemical reaction of DME synthesis, it was found that the Nb sub(2)O sub(5) modified gamma -Al sub(2)O sub(3) catalyst exhibited a higher activity in the low temperature region (240 degree C-260 degree C) and a higher activity than did the untreated gamma -Al sub(2)O sub(3) catalyst.