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Critical role of formaldehyde during methanol conversion to hydrocarbons

Author

Listed:
  • Yue Liu

    (Technische Universität München)

  • Felix M. Kirchberger

    (Technische Universität München)

  • Sebastian Müller

    (Technische Universität München)

  • Moritz Eder

    (Technische Universität München)

  • Markus Tonigold

    (Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH)

  • Maricruz Sanchez-Sanchez

    (Technische Universität München)

  • Johannes A. Lercher

    (Technische Universität München)

Abstract

Formaldehyde is an important intermediate product in the catalytic conversion of methanol to olefins (MTO). Here we show that formaldehyde is present during MTO with an average concentration of ~0.2 C% across the ZSM-5 catalyst bed up to a MeOH conversion of 70%. It condenses with acetic acid or methyl acetate, the carbonylation product of MeOH and DME, into unsaturated carboxylate or carboxylic acid, which decarboxylates into the first olefin. By tracing its reaction pathways of 13C-labeled formaldehyde, it is shown that formaldehyde reacts with alkenes via Prins reaction into dienes and finally to aromatics. Because its rate is one order of magnitude higher than that of hydrogen transfer between alkenes on ZSM-5, the Prins reaction is concluded to be the major reaction route from formaldehyde to produce dienes and aromatics. In consequence, formaldehyde increases the yield of ethene by enhancing the contribution of aromatic cycle.

Suggested Citation

  • Yue Liu & Felix M. Kirchberger & Sebastian Müller & Moritz Eder & Markus Tonigold & Maricruz Sanchez-Sanchez & Johannes A. Lercher, 2019. "Critical role of formaldehyde during methanol conversion to hydrocarbons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09449-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09449-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Tabibian, Seyed Shayan & Sharifzadeh, Mahdi, 2023. "Statistical and analytical investigation of methanol applications, production technologies, value-chain and economy with a special focus on renewable methanol," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).

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