Partial Oxidation Of Dimethyl Ether Research Articles

Partial oxidation of dimethyl ether over various supported metal catalysts

Partial oxidation of dimethyl ether (DME) on various metal catalysts was investigated. DME was highly active for oxidation and could be partially oxidized into CO and H 2 at a temperature lower than 600 K on most of the examined supported metal catalysts. The products of partial oxidation of DME depended strongly not only on the metal catalyst but also on the oxide support. Formation of CO, H 2, CH 4, HCHO, CO 2, and H 2O were observed on Al 2O 3-supported catalysts. However, no HCHO was formed on the catalysts supported on SiO 2, MgO, Y 0.16Zr 0.84O 2 (YSZ), Ce 0.85Sm 0.15O 3, and LaGaO 3 based oxide, i.e. La 0.8Sr 0.2Ga 0.8Mg 0.15Co 0.05O 3 (LSGMC). The activity to partial oxidation of DME on catalysts supported on Al 2O 3 increased in the order of Ni>Rh>Co⪢Ru>Fe>Pt⪢Ag. In particular, Ni supported on LaGaO 3 based oxide was active and selective for partial oxidation of DME into synthesis gas. Effects of reaction conditions were further studied on Ni/LSGMC. Selectivity to CO and H 2 increased with decreasing contact time. Therefore, primary products of this reaction are CO and H 2 and the byproduct CH 4 seems to be a secondary product. A small amount of coke was formed on Ni/LSGMC at low reaction temperatures; however, the amount was tiny at high temperatures.