Kinetic modeling and optimization of the operating condition of MTO process on SAPO-34 catalyst

Abstract In this paper, a new kinetic model for methanol to olefin process (MTO) over SAPO-34 catalyst was developed based on data obtained from a micro catalytic reactor using appropriate reaction network. The reaction rate equation has been introduced with consideration of reaction mechanism and the parameters were optimized on the experimental data by genetic algorithm. Comparing the experimental and predicted data showed that the predicted values from the presented model are well fitted to the experimental data. Using this kinetic model, the effect of most important operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, inlet water to methanol molar ratio and methanol space–time on the product distribution, has been examined. Finally, the optimal operating conditions for maximum production of the ethylene and the propylene were introduced.