Efficient Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether from Methanol in a Bifunctional Zeolite Membrane Reactor

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Abstract
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.
Funding Information
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (21276262, 174433KYSB2013005)
  • National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2015AA03A602)
  • Ningbo Science and Technology Innovation Team (2014B81004)
  • China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M571907)
  • Ningbo Municipal Natural Science Foundation (2015A610055)

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