Research progress and pilot plant test on SDTO process

In the earlier of 1990's, we have proposed a new process for the synthesis of light olefins from syngas, which was designated as SDTO method. That is to convert syngas to dimethylether and than to convert dimethylether to light olefins. The present work deals with the R&D research progress of this process. The catalysts were developed for the two reactions, scale-up preparation of the catalysts and pilot plant test were performed. Evaluation of the pilot plant data showed that 190 similar to 200 grams of DME were yielded by single-pass for each standard cubic meter of syngas. For the second reaction, material-balance data indicated that 1.880 tons of DME or 2.615 tons of methanol can produce one ton of light olefins, which constituting 0.533 ton of ethylene, 0.349 ton of propylene and 0.118 ton of butenes