Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1993, 58, 2079-2089
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19932079

Heteropoly Acids Supported on α-Al2O3 as Solid Acid Catalysts for Methanol Transformation

Ebeid M. Fikry, Ali Abdel-Ghaffar, Amin Anwar and Sameh Aboul-Fotouh

Chemistry Department, Faculty of Education, Roxy, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Transformation of methanol into dimethyl ether and methane was carried out over two heteropoly acids supported on α-Al2O3 under atmospheric pressure and at 300 °C. The samples were characterized physicochemically (SBET, X-ray diffraction and acidity). The effect of reaction time, temperature, methanol partial pressure and of the content of the supported acid were studied. The results showed that α-Al2O3 increased the catalyst life. The selectivity towards dimethyl ether and methane formation depended on the type of acid and its content. The results indicate that dimethyl ether is formed by surface region whereas methane formation proceeds in the bulk of the catalyst.