The contribution of the methanol-to-aromatics reaction to benzene methylation over ZSM-5 catalysts

The methanol to aromatics conversion is shown to contribute significantly to the benzene methylation with methanol at 400degreesC over acidic ZSM-5 catalysts but such contribution over all catalysts is negligible at 250degreesC. Benzene-only conversion shows only negligible contribution at both temperatures over the catalysts studied. However, it appears that the methanol-only conversion can be minimised, to enhance the benzene methylation with methanol (and indirectly the oxidative benzene methylation with methane), by using NaZSM-5 with highly reduced Bronsted acidity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.