Oxygenate conversion over protonated zeolites.
Abstract
In this thesis, a number of commercial zeolites and a silicalite have been characterised using transmission FT-IR in a vacuum cell. The samples were then investigated in situ by DRIFTS during methanol conversion at 350oC, and the product stream was analysed with a GC-MS. Characterization of the sample showed that all the zeolites had weak and strong acidic sites, whereas the silicalite only had weak acidic sites. Hence, all the zeolites were active catalysts for conversion of methanol the hydrocarbons while the silicalite was inactive.