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Effect of Phosphorus Impregnation on γ-Al2O3 for Methanol Dehydration to Dimethyl Ether

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Abstract

Dimethyl ether has gained great attention by Indonesian Government since it will be used for the substitution for liquid petroleum gas. This work was aimed to study the effect of phosphorus addition on γ-Al2O3 catalyst for methanol dehydration to DME synthesis. The catalysts were prepared using sonication-assisted impregnation. The modified catalysts were characterized (XRD, BET, and NH3-TPR analysis), and their activity was tested in bench scale reactor. The results showed that the 5%P/γ-Al2O3 catalyst had medium acidity which was good for dehydration of methanol to DME. The surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter were measured as 132 m2/g, 0.42 mL/g, and 127 Å, respectively. The activity test was carried out at 240–280 °C, atmospheric pressure, and GHSV 2,142 h−1. The 5%P/γ-Al2O3 catalyst exhibited good performances at a temperature of 240 °C with 42% of methanol conversion, 18% of yield of DME, and 75% of selectivity of DME. Methanol dehydration using modified 5% P/γ-Al2O3 did not produce H2 by-products and other compounds which were produced during methanol dehydration with unmodified γ-Al2O3.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to appreciate the Indonesia Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDPKS) for funding this research on Biomass to Methanol/DME and Research, Community Service, and Innovation Program (P3MI-ITB) 2020. The authors also thank for the support facilities from the Laboratory of Waste to Clean Energy, Institute of Energy and Power Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, China. Dr. Dicka Ar Rahim and Puji Andini, M.Sc are appreciated for their assistance in XRD analysis.

Funding

Funding was provided by Institut Teknologi Bandung (Grant No. 2020).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia

    Aisyah Ardy, Jenny Rizkiana, Melia Laniwati Gunawan & Herri Susanto

  2. Institute of Energy and Power Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China

    Mi Yan

  3. Interdiscipilinary Research Center for Refining & Advanced Chemicals, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Dwi Hantoko

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  1. Aisyah Ardy
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Correspondence to Herri Susanto.

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Ardy, A., Hantoko, D., Rizkiana, J. et al. Effect of Phosphorus Impregnation on γ-Al2O3 for Methanol Dehydration to Dimethyl Ether. Arab J Sci Eng 48, 15883–15893 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-07800-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-07800-1

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