Modified natural kaolin clay as an active, selective, and stable catalyst for methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether.

In this work, the production of dimethyl ether (DME) from methanol over natural kaolin clay modified through impregnation with various percentages of HSO, WO, or ZrO catalysts was investigated. The prepared catalysts were characterized via X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and N-sorption analysis. The acidity of these catalysts was determined through the dehydration of isopropyl alcohol and the chemisorption of pyridine.

Zirconium Oxide Sulfate-Carbon (ZrOSO@C) Derived from Carbonized UiO-66 for Selective Production of Dimethyl Ether.

Methanol dehydration process to dimethyl ether (DME) has been considered as one of the main routes to produce clean fuel, that is, DME. Thus, efficient catalysts are highly required for selective production of DME. Herein, UiO-66 was used as a precursor for the synthesis of zirconium oxide sulfate embedded carbon (ZrOSO@C).