Improvement of ZSM-5 nano catalyst performance in methanol to gasoline conversion by alkaline treatment with alkyl amines

In the present study alkaline treatment of ZSM-5 catalyst (Si/Al=50) with alkyl amine compounds was performed and its effect on catalyst’s porosity and performance in methanol to gasoline (MTG) conversion was investigated. The Na-ZSM-5 catalyst was synthesized by the hydrothermal method then converted to H-ZSM-5. The catalyst was treated with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 M of alkyl amine solutions at 75ºC. The XRD results confirmed that the crystalline structure was preserved. A reduction in Si/Al ratio was observed from the ICP-MS results which is more obvious with the samples treated with 0.05M concentration. The BET experiments showed that modified catalysts had increased specific surface area and mesopore formation have been occurred. Formation of new pores in catalyst’s structure was confirmed by FE-SEM results. The methanol to gasoline reactor tests confirmed that alkaline treatment of ZSM-5 catalysts with alkyl amine compounds have increased the catalyst’s life time.