MODIFICATION OF ?-AL2O3 CATALYST AND ACTIVITY PERFORMANCE OF CATALYST DEHYDRATION OF METHANOL TO DME

• Main Author: Susanto, Edi
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/54693
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The Government of Indonesia through the National Energy General Plan (RUEN) 2017 plans to use dimethyl ether (DME) as alternative energy for Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), as a result of the continued increase in LPG imports. DME is an environmentally friendly alternative energy source that is low in CO, NOX, SOX, and other harmful pollutants. DME if burned will produce a blue flame, the characteristics of the blue flame are very compatible with the flame of LPG. DME itself can be produced from coal or biomass following the energy mix target included in the RUEN 2017 and the National Energy Policy (KEN). In this study, DME synthesis was carried out by dehydration of methanol using ?-Al2O3 ITB catalysts and catalysts that had been modified with CuO. The objective of this research was to evaluate the performance of ?-Al2O3 ITB catalysts and catalysts impregnated by CuO to DME products. The tubular fixedbed reactor (with diameter 15 mm and length 210 mm) was used in the process of dehydrating methanol to DME. The research consisted of 3 main steps: characterization of catalyst, activity test of catalyst, and analysis result. The dehydration of methanol process was initiated with purging the reactor by flowing N2 gas up to 280? for 1 hour. The dehydration of methanol process was carried out at a pressure of 1 bar with GHSV 1,100-2,200/hour. The flow rate of methanol 1.9-4 mL/hour with the concentration of methanol 99% (prepared with absorbing water using mol sieve), the flow rate of N2 gas 10-30 mL/min, and 3%-wt of CuO. The effluent of reactor was analyzed using a gas chromatography and the liquid product was analyzed using a refractometer. By using the ?-Al2O3 ITB catalyst the highest methanol conversion was 89.58% at 260? and GHSV 2.142/hour. The respectively highest yield and selectivity of DME were 6.55% and 16.63% at 280? and GHSV 1,100/hour. Whereas by using CuO/?-Al2O3 catalyst, the highest methanol conversion was 85.54% at 300? and GHSV 1,200/hour. The respectively highest yield and selectivity of DME were 1.38% and 3.70% at 280 ? and GHSV 1,200/hour.