Diethyl Ether to Hydrocarbons Catalytic Transformation Over Iron Modified H-ZSM-5 Zeolite

Decrease of traditional hydrocarbon feed stock stimulates a widespread interest in the development hydrocarbons synthesis from renewable or low-value sources. The catalytic transformation of methanol into hydrocarbons, along with the Fischer–Tropsch process, can be considered as a possible way to obtain synthetic hydrocarbons. At the same time, the activity and stability of the catalysts have a decisive influence on the efficiency of the whole process. Zeolites and zeotypes of various structures traditionally used as catalysts are characterized by low rates of hydrocarbon accumulation and a short period of functioning, which requires a change in their structural characteristics or the synthesis of new systems. The aim of this work is to obtain iron-modified H-ZSM-5 type zeolites in order to increase the rate of liquid hydrocarbons accumulation and increase the lifetime of the catalyst. To achieve this goal zeolite was modified with iron, the main physicochemical characteristics of the obtained catalysts were determined and the catalytic properties were screened. Modification of zeolites by iron was carried out by the ion exchange method, as a result samples with an iron content of 0.004 wt.% to 0.240 wt.% were synthesized. In this case the decrease in the micropores surface from 280 m2/g to 190 m2/g and decrease in the number of acid sites from 1.08 mmol/g to 0.72 mmol/g was noticed. Modification of zeolite with iron of concentration up to 0.008 wt. % contributed to an increase in transformation rate of dimethyl ether from 0.04 to 0.06 kg (DME)/(kg (Cat)h) and decreace to 0.03 kg (DME)/(kg (Cat) h) during further increasing of iron content, however process selectivity to liquid hydrocarbons increase from 30% to 54%. Modification of zeolite with iron contributes to a significant change in hydrocarbon composition. With an increase in the iron concentration from 0.004 wt.% to 0.017 wt.%, the increase in the concentration of propane, butane and aliphatic hydrocarbons with the number of carbon atoms of six or more was noticed along with a decrease in the concentration of aromatic compounds.