One-step synthesis of dimethyl ether from syngas on ordered mesoporous copper incorporated alumina

Abstract

Ordered mesoporous copper incorporated Al2O3 (Cu/Al2O3) with high Cu dispersion were prepared by a facile solution combustion synthesis method using aluminum nitrate and copper nitrate as oxidants and urea as fuel. It is a facile and green route to synthesize catalysts for dimethyl ether directly from syngas. Cu/Al2O3 catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, SEM-EDS, and H2-TPR. The results indicate that the catalysts obtain an ordered mesoporous structure and copper is homogenously dispersed. The mesoporous Cu/Al2O3 catalysts were utilized as bifunctional catalysts in syngas to dimethyl ether reaction (STD). The copper content affects the catalytic performance in STD reaction. The CO conversion and DME selectivity of Cu/Al2O3 with 15% copper molar ratio achieve 52.9% and 66.1%, respectively. Moreover, the mesoporous Cu/Al2O3 catalysts show excellent stability in STD reaction.