Use of aluminum phosphate as the dehydration catalyst in single step dimethyl ether process

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:871560

Peng, Xiang-Dong ^[1]; Parris, Gene E ^[2]; Toseland, Bernard A ^[1]; Battavio, Paula J ^[1]

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1. Allentown, PA
2. Coopersburg, PA

The present invention pertains to a process for the coproduction of methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) directly from a synthesis gas in a single step (hereafter, the "single step DME process"). In this process, the synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon oxides is contacted with a dual catalyst system comprising a physical mixture of a methanol synthesis catalyst and a methanol dehydration catalyst. The present invention is an improvement to this process for providing an active and stable catalyst system. The improvement comprises the use of an aluminum phosphate based catalyst as the methanol dehydration catalyst. Due to its moderate acidity, such a catalyst avoids the coke formation and catalyst interaction problems associated with the conventional dual catalyst systems taught for the single step DME process.

• Research Organization: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (Allentown, PA)
• DOE Contract Number: FC22-95PC93052
• Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (Allentown, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5753716
• OSTI ID: 871560
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

aluminum
phosphate
dehydration
catalyst
single
step
dimethyl
process
pertains
coproduction
methanol
dme
directly
synthesis
gas
hereafter
comprising
hydrogen
carbon
oxides
contacted
dual
physical
mixture
improvement
providing
active
stable
comprises
based
due
moderate
acidity
avoids
coke
formation
interaction
associated
conventional
systems
taught
stable catalyst
dual catalyst
physical mixture
single step
synthesis gas
improvement comprises
gas comprising
methanol synthesis
comprising hydrogen
coke formation
synthesis catalyst
aluminum phosphate
based catalyst
/518/502/