Synthesis and Characterization of Different γ-Al2O3 Nanocatalysts for Methanol Dehydration to Dimethyl Ether

A simple co-precipitation method was utilized to synthesize gamma-Al2O3 catalysts using aluminum nitrate nonahydrate as the source of aluminum cations for methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether (DME). Different precipitating agents comprising ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonia solutions were used for preparation of the samples. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, NH3-TPD and N-2 adsorption-desorption techniques. The sample prepared by ammonia solution had the highest acidity among the synthesized catalysts. Also, N-2 adsorption-desorption results showed suitable textural properties for all of the synthesized samples. Vapor phase dehydration of methanol to DME was performed in the fixed bed micro reactor over the synthesized catalysts and commercial one for comparison purposes. The effects of different characteristics of catalysts such as surface area, acidity, sintering factor and temperature as an operating parameter on performance of catalysts were investigated. The catalyst prepared by ammonia solution showed best catalytic activity due to the suitable textural properties and high amount of acidic sites. Also, the results showed that only high acid strength can't result high yield of DME for a solid acid catalyst.