Process
AssigneeBp P.L.C.
InventorsBenjamin James DENNIS-SMITHER, John Glenn SUNLEY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for dehydrating methanol to dimethyl ether product in the presence of a solid Brønsted acid catalyst which is an aluminosilicate zeolite or a heteropolyacid and a promoter which is (i) a ketone of formula R1COR2 (Formula I) in which R1 and R2 are identical or different and are each a C1-C11 alkyl group and furthermore R1 and R2 together with the carbonyl carbon atom to which they are bonded may form a cyclic ketone; or (ii) a ketal derivative of a ketone of Formula I; and the molar ratio of promoter to methanol is maintained at 0.5 or less.
Claims21
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 aluminosilicate zeolites or heteropolyacids, and the promoter is at least one
- (i) ketone of formula R′COR2 (Formula I)
- wherein R1 and R2 are identical or different and are each a C1-C11 alkyl group and furthermore R1 and R2 together with the carbonyl carbon atom to which they are bonded may form a cyclic ketone;
- or
- (ii) ketal derivative of a ketone of Formula I;
- and
- wherein the molar ratio of promoter to methanol is maintained at 0.5 or less.
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 aluminosilicate zeolites or heteropolyacids, and the promoter is at least one
- (i) ketone of formula R1COR2 (Formula I)
- wherein R1 and R2 are identical or different and are each a C1-C11 alkyl group and furthermore R1 and R2 together with the carbonyl carbon atom to which they are bonded may form a cyclic ketone;
- or
- (ii) ketal derivative of a ketone of Formula I;
- and
- wherein the molar ratio of promoter to methanol is maintained at 0.5 or less.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.