A new catalysts for the MeOH to DME reaction: Reaction mechanism and kinetic behavior

The kinetic behavior of a modified clinoptilolite zeolite for the methanol to dimethylether dehydration reaction has been investigated using a differential fixed bed reactor. It was observed that at high partial pressures, MeOH plays an inhibition role. A novel Langmuir-Hinshelwood type reaction mechanism has been developed that predicts the latter effect .The modified clinoptilolite zeolite subject of this study might be of high industrial interest because of the relative lower activation energy (ca. 60 kJ mol -1 ) compared to other reported zeolitic and non-zeolitic atalysts.