Modeling the low-temperature synthesis of dimethyl ether from methanol

The low-temperature catalytic dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) has been analyzed. Efficient sulfocationic catalysts for the liquid-phase dehydration of methanol within a temperature range of 90–150°C and polyoxide catalysts for the gas-phase dehydration of methanol within a temperature range of 130–220°C have been selected. Kinetic models of these reactions are constructed, and their constants are determined from the results of kinetic experiments. The constructed models are shown to be adequate to experiment. The selected catalysts open additional opportunities for intensifying the processes of DME synthesis from methanol and syngas, abruptly reducing the primecost of the target product, dimethyl ether.