Effect of Some Technological Parameters on the Conversion of Dimethyl Ether to Light Olefins in a Slurry Reactor

Abstract

Effect of mode parameters, such as the feed gas flow rate, its content of dimethyl ether, and content of a catalyst in the suspension, on the main parameters of the dimethyl ether conversion into light C₂–C₄ olefins in a three-phase system (slurry reactor) in the presence of a catalytic suspension based on a nanosize zeolite Mg–MFI dispersed in silicone oil was examined. The values of the parameters, at which the conversion of dimethyl ether occurs in the steady state mode under favorable hydrodynamic conditions at a relative chemical stability of the dispersion medium and its minimum mechanical entrainment from the reactor, were found. Irrespective of the dimethyl ether concentration in the operating gas, the reaction was shown to occur with conversion of up to ~80% at selectivity of ~50%, and ethylene is the main reaction product (up to 30 wt %).