Coking on micrometer- and nanometer-sized mordenite during dimethyl ether carbonylation to methyl acetate

As compared to conventional micrometer-sized mordenite particles, nanometer-sized mordenite gave a much higher activity and better stability in dimethyl ether carbonylation to methyl acetate by suppressing the deposition of hard coke. A structural analysis revealed that intra-crystalline diffusion limitation of the reactants and products to and from the active sites inside the channels was greatly decreased by reducing the zeolite size to the nanometer size.

Graphical AbstractNanometer-sized H-mordenite (HMOR) showed a much higher reaction rate and stability than micrometer-sized HMOR, resulting from the improvement of molecule transportation efficiency by reducing the crystalline size.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide