SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2022, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (10): 43-55.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2022.09.008

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A review on direct synthesis of dimethoxymethane

Jia Ren, Feng Xin, Yongsheng Xu   

  1. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300050, China
  • Received:2022-04-15 Revised:2022-09-02 Online:2023-01-04 Published:2022-10-28
  • Contact: Feng Xin,E-mail:xinf@tju.edu.cn

A review on direct synthesis of dimethoxymethane

Jia Ren, Feng Xin, Yongsheng Xu   

  1. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300050, China
  • 通讯作者: Feng Xin,E-mail:xinf@tju.edu.cn

Abstract: Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers are recognized as the prospective diesel additive to decrease the pollutant emission from the light-duty vehicles, which can be polymerize form the monomer of dimethoxymethane (DMM). The industrial synthesis of DMM is mainly involved two-step process: methanol is oxidized to form the formaldehyde in fixed bed reactor and then reacted with the generated formaldehyde through acetalization in continuous stirred-tank reactor. Due to huge energy consumption, this typical synthesis route of DMM needs to be upgraded and more green routes should be determined. In this review, four state-of-the-art one-step direct synthetic routes, including two upgrading routes (methanol direct oxidation and direct dehydrogenation) and two green routes (methanol diethyl ether direct oxidation and carbon oxides direct hydrogenation), have been summarized and compared. Combination with the reaction mechanism and catalytic performance on the different catalysts, the challenges and opportunities for every synthetic route are proposed. The relationships between catalyst structure and property in different synthesis strategy are also investigated and then the suggestions of the design of catalyst are given about future research directions that efforts should be made in. Hopefully, this review can bridge the gap between newly developed catalysts and synthesis technology to realize their commercial applications in the near future.

Key words: Dimethoxymethane (DMM), Direct synthesis, Reaction mechanism, Catalyst

摘要: Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers are recognized as the prospective diesel additive to decrease the pollutant emission from the light-duty vehicles, which can be polymerize form the monomer of dimethoxymethane (DMM). The industrial synthesis of DMM is mainly involved two-step process: methanol is oxidized to form the formaldehyde in fixed bed reactor and then reacted with the generated formaldehyde through acetalization in continuous stirred-tank reactor. Due to huge energy consumption, this typical synthesis route of DMM needs to be upgraded and more green routes should be determined. In this review, four state-of-the-art one-step direct synthetic routes, including two upgrading routes (methanol direct oxidation and direct dehydrogenation) and two green routes (methanol diethyl ether direct oxidation and carbon oxides direct hydrogenation), have been summarized and compared. Combination with the reaction mechanism and catalytic performance on the different catalysts, the challenges and opportunities for every synthetic route are proposed. The relationships between catalyst structure and property in different synthesis strategy are also investigated and then the suggestions of the design of catalyst are given about future research directions that efforts should be made in. Hopefully, this review can bridge the gap between newly developed catalysts and synthesis technology to realize their commercial applications in the near future.

关键词: Dimethoxymethane (DMM), Direct synthesis, Reaction mechanism, Catalyst