Efficient and stable synthesis of diethylene glycol dimethyl ether over aluminophosphate catalyst
摘要
A series of aluminophosphate catalysts (xP-Al-O-T) with various P/Al molar ratios and calcination temperatures were prepared through a one-pot reaction with F127. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared xP-Al-O-T catalysts were thoroughly investigated using methods such as XRD, FTIR, Py-FTIR, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and NH₃-TPD. The results showed that the prepared xP-Al-O-T samples existed in the amorphous form and weak Lewis acidic sites on the surfaces were predominant. The prepared catalysts were investigated for their catalytic behaviors in gas-phase etherification of diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (DEGME) with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) to produce diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DEGDME), which is regarded as a green synthetic route. The effects of different P/Al molar ratios and calcination temperatures on the catalyst performance were studied. All the tested catalysts exhibited 100% DEGME conversion. When the calcination temperature was 550 °C and the P/Al molar ratio was 0.75, the aluminophosphate catalyst could proceed for 248 h without significant loss of activity and changes in product DEGDME selectivity, showing the long catalytic stability.
Graphical abstract