Direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from synthesis gas over metal-pillared ilerites

The capability of metal (Cu, Zn)-pillared ilerites and metal oxide (CuO, ZnO)-impregnated metal-pillared ilerites for direct synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from synthesis gas was explored. The metal-pillared ilerites were synthesized and characterized by XRD, BET, ICP-AES and SEM. The reaction was carried out in a fixed bed reactor with the prepared catalysts at different temperatures (200, 250, 300°C), 20 bar and H₂/CO ratio of 2. For CuO/Zn-ilerite catalyst, CO conversion was about 62% and selectivity to DME was about 89% at 250°C.