Conversion of Dimethyl Ether to a Mixture of Liquid Hydrocarbons with Increased Triptane Content

Abstract

The influence of the structural type and of the textural and acid properties of the zeolite on the catalyst selectivity in synthesis of a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons with increased content of isoalkanes from dimethyl ether was examined. The synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons enriched in triptane in the course of gasoline production from CO and H₂ via dimethyl ether in the presence of La-H-Y zeolite was performed for the first time. Excess hydrogen in the system and relatively short contact time of the catalyst with the feed favor an increase in the triptane yield. Additional modification with palladium leads to optimization of the acid properties of the La-H-Y zeolite and, as a consequence, to an increase in the triptane content of the gasoline from 2.0 to 9.4 wt %.