Influence of zeolite ZSM-5 synthesis protocols and physicochemical properties in the methanol-to-olefin process

To address the growing concerns regarding climate change and the depletion of fossil resources, the zeolite ZSM-5 catalyzed methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process is considered to be a promising chemical technology for producing essential chemical building blocks (e.g., light olefins) from renewable feedstocks. Because of the inherent complexity of the MTO reaction, tuning the physicochemical properties of the ZSM-5 zeolite (including nature, position, and strength/density of the acid sites and the effect of metals/non-metals on the acidity, porosity, crystal size, and degree of crystallinity via impregnation/ion exchange) is extremely challenging. Therefore, the state-of-the-art relationship between the physicochemical properties of the ZSM-5 zeolite and its performance in the MTO process is analyzed, which could improve the understanding of the crucial role of ZSM-5 zeolite properties. In addition, hierarchical hybrid/composite zeolite materials, which have recently attracted significant attention, are evaluated. Owing to the existence of both meso- and microporosity, these hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites could facilitate molecular transport while preserving the intrinsic catalytic properties of the zeolites. This review summarizes the recent advancements in the synthesis and modification of ZSM-5-zeolite-based catalysts for achieving the desired reactivity and selectivity of light olefins. In addition, both the practical and potential future applications of MTO chemistry are evaluated. From a broader perspective, we believe that this review article could aid in the development of new or upgraded ZSM-5-zeolite-based catalysts for the MTO process. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study focuses on the methanol-to-olefin process catalyzed by ZSM-5 zeolite for producing essential chemical building blocks from renewable feedstocks. It highlights the importance of tuning the physicochemical properties of ZSM-5 zeolite for reaction performance and the potential of using hierarchical hybrid/composite zeolite materials.