Methanol dehydration to produce dimethyl ether over γ-Al2O3

The kinetic data of about 150 points for methanol dehydration were obtained at the temperature of 240 similar to 270 degrees C, the GHSV of 25,000 similar to 120,000 (mL/g(cat)./h) and under atmospheric pressure. The data were fitted into six plausible equations. The kinetic equation derived from the molecular adsorption of methanol on two sites fit the kinetic data best, however, that from the dissociative adsorption of methan`ol could not be safely ruled out. The activation energy of 114.7 kJ/mol for methanol dehydration on gamma-Al2O3 was obtained from the kinetic analysis.