A SINGLE-STAGE, LIQUID-PHASE DIMETHYL ETHER SYNTHESIS PROCESS FROM SYNGAS III. DUAL CATALYST CRYSTAL GROWTH, DEACTIVATION, AND ACTIVITY CONSERVATION STUDIES

In the liquid phase dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis process, both the methanol synthesis catalyst )composed of CuO, ZnO, and Al₂O₃) and the methanol dehydration catalyst (composed of gamma-alumina) are slurried in the inert oil phase. Various long-term activity checks were conducted on these dual catalysts to characterize the crystal growth and the thermal aging behavior. X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and elemental intensity compositions, and the crystallite size distributions of the aged catalysts were examined. Based on the current investigation, it was established that the crystal growth and the catalyst deactivation problems in the methanol synthesis catalyst are less severe when it is used along with the methanol dehydration catalyst.