Activity and deactivation of ZSM-5 catalysts in the dimethyl ether synthesis from CO and H2 and methanol dehydration

The increasing demand for producing dimethyl ether from synthesis gas explains the renewed interest in studying the activity and stability of catalysts. In the present work, resource catalytic testing of ZSM-5 zeolites was carried out in the one-step synthesis of dimethyl ether from synthesis gas for 120 hours. Formation of condensation products was observed on zeolite surface after catalytic tests which leads to lower catalytic activity of samples. Condensation products were investigated by thermal analysis in an oxidizing atmosphere. Textural characteristics of zeolites before and after reaction were investigated. It was shown that methanol significantly contribute to formation of condensation products on the catalyst surface in the process of dimethyl ether production