CATALYTIC TRANSFORMATION OF METHANOL ON H-ZSM-5 ZEOLITE UNDER MICROFLUIDIC FLOW CONDITIONS

The article is devoted to the study of microstructured alumina monolith covered with H-ZSM-5 layer in methanol to hydrocarbons transformation process in microfluidic conditions. The mono-lithic catalyst for the microreactor was formed using 90 wt.% alumina and 10% zeolite H-ZSM-5 mixture. The composition was pressed into a mold followed by treatment in an aqueous solution of 0.1M sodium hydroxide for 3 h, drying at 105 degrees C for 2 h and calcination at 600 degrees C. The synthesized monolithic catalyst was characterized by a diameter of 20 mm and a length of 50 mm. The inner cylin-drical channels had a diameter of 1 mm. Secondary growth of H-ZSM-5 zeolite was carried out on the surface of the monolith. The monolith was placed in 5 wt.% aqueous solution of tetraprop-ylammonium bromide and then the monolith was placed in an autoclave filled with a solution of precursors of the molar composition 7Na(2)O:0.25Al(2)O(3):100SiO(2):3500H(2)O for hydrothermal syn-thesis. The developed catalyst was analyzed by ammonia chemosorption, nitrogen physisorption, Si/Al ratio was determined gravimetrically. Methanol transformation reaction was performed in the fol-lowing conditions: methanol weight hourly space velocity was 4 kg(MeOH)/((kg(Cat)xh), reactor tem-perature was 450 degrees C, overall pressure in the reactor was 0.11 MPa. Application of monolith micro-channel catalyst showed a considerable increase in process selectivity to small olefins including ethylene and propylene. Methanol transformation rate rose from 2.8 kg(MeOH)/((kg(Cat)xh) to 3.3 kg(MeOH)/((kg(Cat) xh) and catalyst deactivation was not noticed for 24 h. The increase in methanol to hydrocarbons transformation process selectivity to olefins catalysts activity and stability can be subscribed to enhanced mass transfer of reaction substances, intermediates, and products.