Continuous Gas-Phase Synthesis of Oxymethylene Dimethyl Ethers Using Supported Ionic Liquid Phase Catalysts

Abstract

Acidic supported ionic liquid phase catalysts were investigated for the synthesis of oxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OMEs). The application of OME1 and trioxane for the gas-phase synthesis of higher OMEs and in particular the generation of OMEn with n higher than 3 was successfully demonstrated. Raising the pressure led to an increase in the conversion of OME1 and to higher selectivity for higher molecular weight OMEs. Furthermore, a correlation between the ionic liquid’s acidity and the catalytic activity was shown with higher acidity leading to higher conversion of trioxane and OME1. Moreover, successful long-term operation for more than 200 h time on stream has been demonstrated with good catalyst system stability