Electrospun CuO/ZnO/ZrO2-ZSM-5 fibrillar bifunctional catalysts for the direct DME synthesis

Abstract

A straightforward method for the preparation of CuO/ZnO/ZrO2-ZSM-5 fibrillar bifunctional catalysts, by using the electrospinning technique. The prepared fibers presented a high aspect ratio and a fairly good copper dispersion was observed and also zeolite particle aggregates along the surface of the fibers, highlighting an enhanced contact between the two phases involved in the syngas-to-DME process. The fibrillar structured bifunctional material were directly used as catalysts in a fixed-bed reactor for the direc synthesis of DME from syngas. The catalytic results showed high CO conversion values and a selectivity to DME higher than 63 %.