The benefit of design of support architectures for zeolite coated structured catalysts for methanol-to-olefin conversion

• A washcoating method was optimized for the coating of ZSM-5 on different types of support.
• Catalysts were evaluated for the conversion of methanol to light olefins, including three dimensional fibre deposition support structures.
• The innovative 3DFD support structures with zigzag channels clearly show a beneficial effect on the selectivity and activity of the catalyst in the conversion of methanol to light olefins.

Zeolites are commonly used as catalysts for a wide range of industrial applications. Macroporous supports with a thin active layer of zeolite make it possible to avoid a trade-off between pressure drop and mass- and heat transfer. The architecture of these porous supports defines the mass- and heat transfer properties of the catalyst. By innovative three dimensional fibre deposition different architectures for the catalyst support can be manufactured rapidly. In this work a wash coating method was optimized for the coating of ZSM-5 on different types of support. The manufactured catalysts were evaluated for the conversion of methanol to light olefins. The effect of architecture of the support structure on the selectivity and activity of the reaction is demonstrated.

In catalysis zeolites are commonly used as a packed bed of zeolite pellets. However, macroporous supports with a thin active layer of zeolite can combine low pressure drops over the reactor with high mass- and heat transfer. By innovative three dimensional fibre deposition (3DFD) different architectures for the catalyst support can be manufactured rapidly and so mass- and heat transfer properties can be altered. In this work, a washcoating method was optimized for the coating of ZSM-5 on different types of support. These catalysts were evaluated for the conversion of methanol to light olefins. The innovative 3DFD support structures with zigzag channels clearly show a beneficial effect on the selectivity to light olefins for the MTO reaction.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (205 K)Download as PowerPoint slide