Gas Phase Dimethyl Ether Synthesis from Syngas.

Dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis from synthesis gas was conducted under pressurized conditionsover catalysts prepared by various methods. Among the Pd/SiO2, Pd/Al2O3, modified Pd/Al2O3 and hybrid (physically mixed) catalysts containing Pd/SiO2 or Cu-Zn-Al (O) and γA -Al2-O3, the hybrid catalyst showed much higher activity and selectivity for DME formation under relatively mild reaction conditions. It was clarified that the combination of methanol synthesis on the Pd or Cu-Zn-Al catalyst and the successive dehydration of methanol to DME occurred smoothly on either supported catalyst or the hybrid catalyst.