Selective Oxidation of Methanol to Green Oxygenates – Feasibility Study of Fixed‐Bed and Membrane Reactors

Abstract

AbstractA feasibility study of a conventional fixed‐bed reactor and a packed‐bed membrane reactor (PBMR) in distributor configuration is carried out for the selective oxidation of methanol to the oxygenates dimethoxymethane and methyl formate on a VOx/TiO2 catalyst. Kinetic experiments provided the reaction network and a reliable kinetic model of six main reactions involved. The PBMR offers significant advantages and potential for the formation of both target products due to an effective kinetic coupling of the oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol and the consecutive reaction steps to dimethoxymethane and methyl formate in a broad range of operation conditions.