Catalytic Activity of Copper Oxide Impregnated HZSM‐5 in Methanol Conversion to Liquid Hydrocarbons

Abstract

AbstractA number of CuO/HZSM‐5 catalysts have been studied in a small scale fixed bed reactor for the conversion of methanol to gasoline range hydrocarbons at 673 K and at one atmospheric pressure. All the catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation technique. The copper oxide loading over HZSM‐5 (Si/Al=45) catalyst was studied in the range of 0 to 9 wt%. XRD, surface area analyzer, metal trace analyzer, SEM techniques and TGA were used to characterize the catalysts. Incorporation of CuO onto HZSM‐5 zeolite significantly increased conversion and liquid hydrocarbon product yields. The major liquid products of the reactions were ethyl benzene, toluene, xylene, isopropyl benzene, ethyl toluene, trimethyl benzene and tetramethyl benzene. The maximum methanol conversion and hydrocarbon product yield was obtained at a copper oxide loading of 7 wt%. Effect of run time on conversion and product distribution was also investigated to compare the performance of these catalysts and coke on the catalyst was determined. Effect of space‐time and temperature on methanol conversion and products yield with 7 wt% CuO/HZSM‐5 has also been investigated and analyzed qualitatively.