Efficient Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether from Methanol in a Bifunctional Zeolite Membrane Reactor.
A sandwich FAU-LTA zeolite dual-layer membrane has been developed and used as a catalytic membrane reactor for the synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME). In the top H-FAU layer with mild acidity, methanol is dehydrated to DME. The other reaction product, water, is removed in situ through a hydrophilic Na-LTA layer, which is located between the porous alumina support and the H-FAU top layer. The combination of mild acidity with the continuous removal of water results in high methanol conversion (90.9 % at 310 °C) and essentially 100 % DME selectivity. Furthermore, owing to the selective and continuous removal of water through the Na-LTA membrane, catalyst deactivation can be effectively suppressed.
Institute of New Energy Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, CAS, 1219 Zhongguan Road, 315201, Ningbo, P.R. China.
Chen
C
Zhou
Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstrasse 3A, 30167, Hannover, Germany.
Nanyi
N
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Multi-phase Complex System, Institute of Process Engineering, CAS, 1 North 2nd Street, Zhongguancun, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.
Yanan
Y
Qian
State Key Laboratory of Multi-phase Complex System, Institute of Process Engineering, CAS, 1 North 2nd Street, Zhongguancun, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.
Xiaoxing
X
Liu
Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstrasse 3A, 30167, Hannover, Germany. juergen.caro@pci.uni-hannover.de.
Jürgen
J
Caro
Institute of New Energy Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, CAS, 1219 Zhongguan Road, 315201, Ningbo, P.R. China. huangaisheng@nimte.ac.cn.
Aisheng
A
Huang
bifunctional zeolite membranes; catalytic membrane reactor; dimethyl ether; methanol conversion; zeolites