Nanosized seed-derived ferrierite zeolite for a gas-phase carbonylation of dimethyl ether to methyl acetate

The nanosized seed-derived FER zeolites (SFER, Si/Al molar ratio of -11) with different FER seed concentration revealed a higher catalytic activity and stability for a gas-phase carbonylation of dimethyl ether (DME) to methyl acetate (MA). At optimal nanosized FER seed contents in the range of 7-15 wt% at much shorter synthesis duration less than 4 days, the larger amounts of stronger Br phi nsted acid sites originated from the highly crystalline FER structures on the SFER(5) and SFER(7) even without using any organic structure directing agent (OSDA) were responsible for a higher DME conversion above 60 % and MA selectivity above 99.5 % with their slower deactivation. The positive observations were mainly attributed to the preferential formations of more active Br phi nsted acid sites on the highly crystalline FER structures, which were also synthesized at much shorter hydrothermal synthesis duration less than 4 days with the help of the previously synthesized nanosized FER seed.

Automated summary

The use of nanosized FER seeds can lead to the synthesis of highly crystalline FER structures in a shorter duration, resulting in improved conversion of dimethyl ether and selectivity towards methyl acetate.