The catalytic performance of sulfated zirconia in the dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether

Abstract

Sulfated zirconia catalysts were prepared by wetness impregnation of zirconium hydroxide with an aqueous solution of (NH4)2SO4 with SO42− loadings (1–30%, w/w) and calcined at 450°C for 3h in a static air atmosphere. The catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, TEM and BET measurements. The surface acidity of the catalysts was investigated by the dehydration of isopropanol and the adsorption of pyridine (PY) and 2,6-dimethyl pyridine (DMPY). The catalysts were tested for dehydration of methanol in a fixed-bed reactor at 230°C using air as a carrier gas. The results revealed that among different catalysts, 10% SO42− supported onto zirconia showed the highest catalytic activity with 83% conversion and 100% selectivity toward dimethyl ether. A good correlation was found between the acidity of the catalysts and their ability to dehydrate methanol.