Synthesis and characterization of nano-sized γ-Al₂O₃ for investigation the effect of temperature on catalytic dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether

ABSTRACT

The new high surface area and high active nano-sized porous γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst was produced by a co-precipitation method. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, NH₃-temperature programmed desorption, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller techniques. The results of characterization tests showed excellent textural and acidic properties of the synthesized catalyst for the methanol dehydration reaction. Catalytic dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether was performed in an adiabatic fixed bed reactor using the new nano-sized catalyst at different operating temperatures. The results showed that the highest methanol conversion occurs in the temperature range of 300–350°C. Finally, a new correlation was developed to predict methanol conversion from operating temperature.

KEYWORDS:

• Co-precipitation
• dimethyl ether
• γ-Al₂O₃
• methanol dehydration
• solid acid catalyst

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Erratum

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Ms. Ziba Hassanvand and Ms. Leila Baharmand, who are staff of Petrochemical Research & Technology Company, for their honest efforts, professional help, cooperation, and for performing the characterization tests.

Funding

The financial support to this work by the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative Council is gratefully acknowledged.

Additional information

Funding

The financial support to this work by the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative Council is gratefully acknowledged.