Dimethyl Ether as a Source of Reactive Species for Alkylation of Benzene

Abstract

The co-reaction of dimethyl ether and benzene has been investigated on pure and promoted-ZSM-5 catalysts at 473–773 K. It was found that the addition of benzene to dimethyl ether markedly increased the formation of toluene, xylene and C9 aromatics on ZSM-5 at and above 623 K. This feature is attributed to the reaction of benzene with the reactive hydrocarbon species formed in the decomposition of dimethyl ether on the acidic sites of ZSM-5 zeolite. The extent of the enhancement was further increased by ZnO and Mo2C promoters.