Process for dehydrating methanol to dimethyl ether
AssigneeBp P.L.C.
InventorsBenjamin James Dennis-Smither, John Glenn Sunley, Zhiqiang Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for dehydrating methanol to dimethyl ether using a Brønsted acid catalyst which is a 1-dimensional or a 3-dimensional aluminosilicate zeolite or a heteropolyacid, and a promoter of Formula I CnH(2n+1)CO2CH3 wherein n=1 to 11 or Formula II CmH2m(CO2CH3)2 wherein m=2 to 7 and the molar ratio of promoter to methanol is maintained at less than 1.
Claims18
A process comprising dehydrating methanol to dimethyl ether product in the presence of a catalyst and a promoter,
- wherein the catalyst is at least one solid Brønsted acid catalyst selected from (a) aluminosilicate zeolites which have a 1-dimensional or a 3-dimensional framework structure, and (b) heteropolyacids, and
- wherein the promoter is:
- (i) at least one an alkyl carboxylate ester, CnH(2n+1)CO2CH3 (Formula I);
- or
- (ii) at least one di-ester compound, CmH2m (CO2CH3)2 (Formula II),
- wherein in Formula I, n is 2 to 11;
- and in Formula II, m is 2 to 7 and wherein the molar ratio of promoter to methanol is maintained at less than 1.
A method of improving the productivity to dimethyl ether product in a process for dehydrating methanol in the presence of a catalyst and a promoter,
- wherein the catalyst is at least one solid Brønsted acid catalyst selected from (a) aluminosilicate zeolites which have a 1-dimensional or a 3-dimensional framework structure, and (b) heteropolyacids, and
- wherein the promoter is:
- (i) at least one an alkyl carboxylate ester, CnH(2n+1)CO2CH3 (Formula I);
- or
- (ii) at least one di-ester compound, CmH2m (CO2CH3)2 (Formula II),
- wherein in Formula I, n is 2 to 11;
- and in Formula II, m is 2 to 7 and wherein the molar ratio of promoter to methanol is maintained at less than 1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.