Abstract
Dimethyl ether (DME) has been considered a potential and promising energy alternative for petroleum subproducts due to its good burning characteristics, and to its high cetana content which is superior to that of diesel. Furthermore, DME can be considered a cleaner fuel than diesel. DME can be produced by dehydration reaction of methanol by using solid catalysts in catalytic reactions. This study shows an analysis of the performance of Al62,2Cu25,5Fe12,3 quasicrystalline alloy as catalyst for dehydrating methanol to produce DME. These quasicrystalline alloys are stable at high temperatures, show a low thermal conductivity and exhibit a fragile nature, which turn them to be easily crushed. Also, their activity is not affected by water. In this research it were used the following special measurements: (i) X-Ray Diffratometry (XRD) for analyzing the phases evolution of the alloys; (ii) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in order to study the surface microstructure and (iii) Transmission Electron Microscopy-TEM for studying internal phases; quasicrystal nuclei morphologies, initial defects and for testing methanol catalytic conversion and selectivity. The latter characteristics were also analyzed for DME and for other subproducts formed in the catalyst. The study showed a good performance of the Al62,2Cu25,5Fe12,3 quasicrystalline alloy used as catalyst for DME production.
Highlights
Dimethyl ether (DME) has attracted a worldwide attention because of its potential as an alternative for substituting petroleum
In terms of DME efficiency which is evaluated through the multiplication of methanol conversion, the results indicate that Al62,2Cu25,5Fe12,3 quasicrystalline alloy as catalyst shows a good stability in catalytic reaction and can be applied for methanol dehydration to DME
The main conclusions of this study are as follows: 1. Al62,2Cu25,5Fe12,3 quasicrystalline alloy used in the experiments is thermodynamically stable at high temperatures satisfying the initial requisite for utilizing it as a catalyst; 2
Summary
Dimethyl ether (DME) has attracted a worldwide attention because of its potential as an alternative for substituting petroleum. Its use in diesel motors causes low emissions of soot particles and of NOX [1]. It can be considered an environmentally compatible fuel. DME production has been investigated by several researchers in many parts of the planet. At environmental conditions; i.e., at 1 atmosphere pressure and temperature of 25°C, DME is present in gaseous state. When it is submitted to higher pressures or to lower temperatures it liquefies in the same way as PLG (Petroleum Liquefied Gas) [2]
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