Effect of method of preparation of Cu-Zn-Al catalysts on DME synthesis

Abstract

A series of Cu-Zn-Al catalysts from the precursors with the hydrotalcite-like structure were prepared, and these catalysts admixed with gamma-Al2O3 were tested for DME synthesis in a fixed bed flow reactor in a single step. DME synthesis rates were well correlated with the Cu metal surface of the Cu-Zn-Al catalysts in the admixed catalysts, indicating that DME synthesis rates would be controlled by methanol synthesis rates.