Two-step catalytic hydrogenation of methanol to hydrocarbons conversion

Abstract The continuous two-step catalytic hydrogenation of methanol to hydrocarbons (MTH) was investigated for improving the distribution of liquid hydrocarbon products using HZSM-5 zeolite and consecutively with two supported Co catalysts, Co/Al2O3 and Co/SBA-15. The sequential catalytic system was employed to enhance the selectivity of long chain hydrocarbons. The catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, XRF, NH3-TPD, and SEM techniques. The catalytic performance of prepared catalysts was performed at 300 oC in a fixed-bed reactor with the constant flow rate of methanol under 1 atm of N2. The liquid hydrocarbons were analyzed by GC-MS. The aromatic and light hydrocarbon products were produced by the HZSM-5 and Co-based catalysts. According to the analysis result, the aromatic hydrocarbon products of the catalysts modified by two-step of catalytic reaction have been significantly increased. The results indicated that the series of HZSM-5 and two supported Co catalysts system led to produce high yield of aromatic hydrocarbon products in the catalytic performance of methanol to hydrocarbon process comparing with only the single HZSM-5 catalyst.