Mechanistic study on the effect of ZnO on methanol conversion over SAPO-34 zeolite

Physical blending of SAPO-34 with ZnO increases the ratio of ethene to propene, and the efficacy of ZnO on increasing ethene to propene ratio increases with increasing proximity between SAPO-34 domains and ZnO surfaces, which exemplifies a facile method of adjusting product distribution by coupling of different catalyst functions. Based on the characterization and reaction results, the effect of ZnO on methanol conversion over SAPO-34 zeolite is interpreted as opening up a parallel reaction pathway involving the reactive intermediate, formaldehyde, and the proximity effect manifests the critical transportation of formaldehyde between SAPO-34 domains and ZnO surfaces on product selectivity.