CMS/SiO2/A12O3 catalysts for improved selectivity in the synthesis of amines from methanol and/or dimethyl ether and ammonia

摘要

The present invention relates to an improved catalyst for the selective synthesis of monomethylamine (MMA) and dimethylamine (DMA) at the expense of trimethylamine (TMA) for a starting feed of methanol and/or dimethyl ether and ammonia. The current industrial catalyst for this process is a standard SiO2/Al2O3 material. The present invention combines this standard catalyst with microporous carbon molecular sieves (CMS) to form a composite material (i.e., a CMS/SiO2/Al2O3 material) with higher selectivity for the desired products MMA and DMA. The invention also relates to methods of making the improved catalyst and a process of using the improved catalyst material in the production of MMA and DMA.