Revista de Ciências Químicas

VOx Modified H-Beta Zeolite for Dimethyl Ether Direct Oxidation to Polyoxymethylene Dimethyl Ethers

Abstract

Wang W, Zhang Q, Gao X, Zhang Z, Gu Y, Han Y and Tan Y

The catalytic performances of bifunctional vanadium oxide supported on Hβ zeolite with redox and acid properties were investigated for dimethyl ether (DME) direct oxidation to polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (DMMx) (x=1-2). The best catalytic performance was obtained over 15%V2O5/Hβ. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, NH3-TPD, H2-TPR, XPS and FT-IR in order to provide the further insight in the relationship of structure and activity. When the loading content of vanadium oxide was 15%, the presence of oxide species was dominantly the polymeric vanadia. The addition of vanadium oxide to the H-beta zeolite not only provided redox sites, but also changed the acid strength and distribution of H-beta zeolite as confirmed by NH3-TPD measurement, and the positive correlation was found between the DMMx selectivity and the ratio of weak and strong acid sites. The introduction of vanadium oxide with appropriate amount to the H-beta zeolite promoted the balance between the acid sites and redox sites, which was very vital for obtaining high DMMx selectivity.