Dehydration of Methanol to Dimethyl Ether—Current State and Perspectives

Abstract

The main groups of catalytic materials used in the conversion of methanol to dimethyl ether (the MTD process) were presented with respect to their advantages, disadvantages, and the methods of their modifications, resulting in catalysts with improved activity, selectivity, and stability. In particular, the effects of strength, surface concentration, and the type of acid sites, the porous structure and morphology of the catalytic materials, the role of catalyst activators, and others, were considered. The prosed mechanisms of the MTD process over various types of catalysts are presented. Moreover, the advantages of membrane reactors for the MTD process are presented and analysed. The perspectives in the development of effective catalysts for the dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether are presented and discussed.