US EPA

3860737 

Journal Article 

Production of antiknock additive in gasoline (methyl tert-butyl ether, MTBE) using zeolite catalysts 

Aboul-Fotouh, SM 

2004 

Yes 

Acta Chimica Slovenica
ISSN: 1318-0207 

51 

2 

293-304 

WOS:000222042200010 

The etherification of a mixture of methanol and t-butanol (1:1 mol) on hydrogen-, fluorinated-, alumina-deficient and aluminum-exchanged forms of ZSM-5, mordenite and Y zeolites was carried out in a flow reactor operated at atmospheric pressure and temperature of 50-400 degreesC using a flow of nitrogen 20 cm(3) min(-1). The effect of methanol/t-butanol molar ratio of 0.5-3.0 and carrier gas flow rates of 10-60 cm(3) min(-1) was studied. The activities of these zeolite catalysts for MTBE production were correlated with their acid sites strength distribution, using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of ammonia in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), as well as with the channels opening dimensions and Si/Al ratio of the zeolites. It is shown that the high acidity and bulk Si/Al ratio has a marked influence on the formation for MTBE. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic character of the catalysts was also discussed. The alumina-dificient and fluorination of a zeolite increases its framework Si/Al ratio, thus increases its hydrophobicity, whereas Al-exchange may decrease this ratio and increases its hydrophilicity. 

methyl tert-butyl ether; MTBE; etherification; ZSM-5; mordenite; Y zeolite; catalyst