Methane Formation Mechanism in the Initial Methanol-to-Olefins Process Catalyzed by SAPO-34

CATEGORY: CATALYSIS: SAPO-34 
Methane Formation Mechanism in the Initial Methanol-to-Olefins Process Catalyzed by SAPO-34

Type	Journal Article
Author	Zhihong Wei
Author	Yanyan Chen
URL	http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2016/cy/c6cy00506c
Publication	Catalysis Science & Technology
Date	2016-03-24
Abstract	A clear understanding of the methane formation mechanism in the initial MTO process helps to illustrate the initial C-H bond activation mechanism and the first C-C bond formation route. Researchers examined the methane formation pathway in the initial MTO process by elaborately designing experiments. Their results demonstrate that methane is generated together with formaldehyde or methoxymethyl cation by attacking the C-H bond of methanol or dimethyl ether (DME) by surface methoxy species (SMS). The reaction of DME and SMS provides strong evidence for the occurrence of C-H bond cleavage and methoxymethyl cation mechanism in the initial MTO process.