Methanol conversion to olefins on H-ZSM-5/Al2O3 catalysts: kinetic modeling

A kinetic study of the methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process was performed for alumina, zeolite H-ZSM-5, and H-ZSM-5/alumina catalyst with 1/1 zeolite/alumina ratio for the solids prepared using commercial zeolite Na-ZSM-5. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, and ammonia thermodesorption. A new kinetic model of the MTO reaction over the as-prepared catalyst was proposed. The model is based on the experimental data of the methanol conversion to dimethyl ether and light olefins obtained under different temperatures and methanol partial pressures. Moreover, the model accounts for the product distribution dependence on the acidity of the as-prepared catalysts. The developed model was found to be sensitive to the methanol conversion route.