Reports: B5
45144-B5 Mechanistic Study of Methanol Oxidation to Dimethoxymethane over Supported Multi-Component Metal Oxide Catalysts
The objective of this investigation is to develop a novel catalytic one-step synthesis of dimethoxymethane (DMM) via methanol oxidation. Such process would circumvent the current costly catalytic two-step industrial process for DMM production involving a catalytic redox reaction to initially form HCHO followed by acidic CH3OH condensation with HCHO to form DMM. Typical commercial yields of HCHO are in the 80-90% range with COx as byproduct.
Supported multi-oxide catalysts, V2O5/P2O5/TiO2 in particular, were prepared to combine these two steps in one catalytic reaction system. Early experiments using a temperature programmed surface reaction (TPSR) spectroscopy-- Zeton-Altamira AMI-200-- equipped with an online quadruple mass spectrometer (Dycor Dymaxion DME200MS) demonstrated a successful yield of 100% DMM. An experimental set-up for steady-state reaction studies were designed and constructed using a tubular catalytic reactor connected to an online GC/MS for product quantification and analysis. With some delays due to technical problems, these studies are ongoing and the outcomes will be reported promptly as they become available.
