Catalytic dehydration of alcohols using phase pure, calcined single- and multi-site heterogeneous catalysts

A process for preparing a substantially phase pure, calcined metal-substituted aluminophosphate, AlPO, wherein at least one aluminum (AlIII) site is substituted by a divalent metal ion (MII) and/or at least one phosphorous (PV) site is substituted by a tetravalent metal ion (MIV) comprising the steps of:

• slowly heating an isomorphously, metal-substituted aluminophosphate catalyst product containing a structure directing agent within its crystalline structure under a flowing inert gas at a calcination temperature ranging between about 200° C. and about 1000° C.,
• holding the isomorphously, metal-substituted aluminophosphate catalyst product under the flowing inert gas at the calcination temperature,
• calcining the isomorphously, metal-substituted aluminophosphate catalyst product for a time of at least about 3 to about 24 hours to form a substantially phase pure, calcined metal-substituted aluminophosphate, and
• slowly cooling the substantially phase pure, calcined metal-substituted aluminophosphate to room temperature.