Efficient synthesis of oxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME) from dimethoxymethane and trioxane over zeolites

Oligomeric oxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OMEn, CH3O(CH2O)(n)CH3) beating three to five CH2O units are promising diesel fuels for the reduction of soot and NO. emissions. Regarding the production of OMEs, a highly optimized process has not been realized yet. This work describes efficient synthesis of OMEs from dimethoxymethane (DMM) and trioxane in batch experiments at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. To ensure high reactivity and high OME yields, dry educts have been used and the influence of water has been investigated in detail. The ion exchange resin Amberlyst36 and zeolites have been employed as acidic catalysts. Zeolite BEA25 exhibited highest catalytic activity and the reaction could be completed within 12 min at 25 degrees C. Furthermore, the formation of byproducts could be fully eliminated. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.