Catalytic and kinetic study of methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether

Dimethyl ether (DME), as a solution to environmental pollution and diminishing energy supplies, can be synthesized more efficiently, compared to conventional methods, using a catalytic distillation column for methanol dehydration to DME over an active and selective catalyst. In this work, using an autoclave batch reactor, a variety of commercial catalysts are investigated to find a proper catalyst for this reaction at moderate temperature and pressure (110–135 °C and 900 kPa). Among the γ-alumina, zeolites (HY, HZSM-5 and HM) and ion exchange resins (Amberlyst 15, Amberlyst 35, Amberlyst 36 and Amberlyst 70), Amberlysts 35 and 36 demonstrate good activity for the studied reaction at the desired temperature and pressure. Then, the kinetics of the reaction over Amberlyst 35 is determined. The experimental data are described well by Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic expression, for which the surface reaction is the rate determining step. The calculated apparent activation energy for this study is 98 kJ/mol.

► Catalyst evaluation for the synthesis of DME from methanol.
► Amberlyst 35 is the best catalyst.
► Kinetic modelling studies for Amberlyst 35.
► The best model that describes the kinetics is a Langmuir–Hinshelwood type.