Investigating Key Parameters Effects on Catalytic Dehydration of Methanol to Dimethyl Ether

In this work, γ-Al2O3 was synthesized through precipitation process and then characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and porosimetry analysis. Afterwards this catalyst was utilized in methanol dehydration reaction in a slurry reactor. Next, the external mass transfer and intra-particle pore diffusion resistances were eliminated; hence investigations were focused upon the intrinsic kinetics effects which were thought to have controlled the reaction. In this venue, the effects of temperature and amount of catalyst on methanol conversion and catalyst stability were studied.