Dimethyl ether to olefins over dealuminated mordenite (MOR) zeolites derived from natural minerals

• Natural mordenites were dealuminated using nitric acid to get better porosity.
• The degree of dealumination was strongly dependent on the treatment period.
• The modified mordenite was applied in dimethyl ether (DME) to light olefins.
• Dealumination has a positive effect on DME conversion and olefins selectivity.

Recent development in shale gas production ensures the availability of cheap feedstock for petrochemicals. Dimethyl ether (DME) is one of the most promising derivatives from natural gas. In this work, we developed catalysts from low-cost natural minerals for the conversion of DME to olefins as one of the most important feedstocks for the petrochemical industry. The catalytic performance of a series of hierarchical mordenite zeolites derived from natural mineral by nitric acid dealumination was studied in the conversion of dimethyl ether (DME) to light olefin compounds. The degree of dealumination was strongly dependent on the treatment period. The DME conversion and olefins selectivity over these materials were investigated at 350 °C and 1 atm. The nitric acid dealumination has a positive effect on both DME conversion and ethylene to butylene selectivity. The fabrication of hierarchical zeolites from natural minerals will stimulate related studies to produce cost-effective catalysts derived from natural resources.

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