Abstract
The decomposition of DMC was studied on multi wall carbon nanotube and on activated carbon supported Cu catalysts (Cu/MWCNT and Cu/Norit) and their catalytic activities were compared. The catalysts were characterized in detail by XPS, BET, NH3 TPD methods. The activity of the catalysts decreased in the order of Cu/MWCNT > MWCNT > Cu/Norit > Norit. Cu/MWCNT was more active than Cu/Norit although the BET surface and the number of acidic sites are higher on Norit than on MWCNT supported catalysts. The products of the decomposition were DME and CO2 in all cases and the ratio of them corresponds to the stoichiometry. On oxidized catalysts, the reaction rate was higher than on the reduced sample. The product distribution also changed: mainly DME on the reduced sample, while on the oxidized catalyst, methanol was formed. It was demonstrated in separate experiments that methanol does not decompose under the same experimental conditions, so the formation of DME in the decomposition of methanol could be excluded: methanol and DME formed via different routes. DRIFT measurements showed that DMC and on Cu/Norit DME exists on the surface of the catalysts during the reaction. We compared the catalytic activity with the acidic character of the samples and with the number of surface Cu atoms. We may conclude that the efficiency of the catalysts is influenced by the ratios of different oxidation states of Cu.
Published Version
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