Process for the preparation of phosphorous containing mesoporous alumina catalyst for selective dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether

摘要

The present invention provides an improved process for the preparation of phosphorous containing mesoporous alumina catalyst for selective dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether. The process provides a single step selective vapor phase dehydration of methanol to produce dimethyl ether over phosphorous containing mesoporous alumina (P/Al2O3) catalyst at a temperature in the range of 150-350° C. The process provides methanol conversion of 45-100% with a selectivity of the DME up to 100%.

主权项

1. A process for preparing a phosphorus containing mesoporous Al2O3 catalyst, wherein said process comprising the steps of:
a) preparing a first solution by i) mixing aluminum isopropoxide in ethanol to give a mixture; ii) adding phosphoric acid, nitric acid and ethanol into the mixture to form a solution; and iii) stirring the solution for a period of 9-11 hrs at 25° C. to 35° C.; b) preparing a second solution by mixing Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly (ethylene glycol) in ethanol; c) mixing two solutions consisting of the first solution and the second solution as obtained in steps (a) and (b) and stirring for a period of 3-5 hrs at 25° C. to 35° C. to give a third solution; d) obtaining a crude phosphorus containing mesoporous Al2O3 catalyst exclusively by drying the third solution at a temperature of 60°-150° C., for a period of 3-48 hrs; and e) calcining the crude phosphorus containing mesoporous Al2O3 catalyst at a temperature of 700° C. for 2-8 hrs, to obtain the phosphorus containing mesoporous Al2O3 catalyst.