In a paper published in January in the journal Petroleum Chemistry, members of the TIPS team reported on the catalytic properties of zeolites modified with titanium or with titanium and sulfur in the conversion of dimethyl ether (DME) to lower olefins and high-octane hydrocarbon components of gasoline. In that paper, they noted that:

Hydrocarbon synthesis from dimethyl ether (DME) over zeolite catalysts is more promising than the methanol process because the production of hydrocarbons from methanol is accompanied by the release of a great amount of heat and the selectivity for hydrocarbons is appreciably lower.

...Recently, researchers have paid a great deal of attention to the use of heterogeneous catalysts prepared from zeolite with titanium compounds. An oriented zeolite modification allows titanium to be introduced into the framework of molecular sieves; owing to this, the zeolite catalyst exhibits a unique catalytic activity in heavy organic synthesis processes.

...A new promising method for preparing titanium-containing catalysts is zeolite treatment with vapors of titanium compounds, such as titanium tetrachloride, followed by sulfation. In this study, the catalytic properties of titanium-containing zeolites and their sulfated forms prepared by zeolite treatment with vaporized modifiers have been examined in the DME conversion to hydrocarbons.

—Kolesnikova et al.

The TIPS catalytic converter delivers considerably better properties than those currently being used in the industry, TNO said.

The benefits of this are manifold. This method of conversion is much more effective and cheaper than the traditional method. To make petrol from gas, you want to minimize the number of unwanted substances like aromatics during the process and get close to the intended octane content. The TIPS catalytic converter is better in this and other respects than existing methods.

With TIPS, TNO now offers the industry worldwide a much more intelligent production process. Given the current low gas prices, this generates both technological and economic benefits. We want to develop the technology further in the field in partnership with industry. We will also be designing a mobile unit to convert gas into fuel at remote locations. The new method will lead to innovations in industry, new cleaner production processes and less harmful emissions.

—Dr. Jean-Marie Bassett, business development manager for TNO’s chemical sector

Flaring gas is a growing problem worldwide. This byproduct of oil production often is difficult to transport from remote locations. Moreover, its composition cannot always be used economically. Russia is one of the countries where this gas-flaring occurs most and the government wants to stop to it. Apart from the waste of gas, flaring produces many substances that are harmful to the environment.

TNO has had good relations with the Russian institute for some time, collaborating on a diversity of areas in the petrochemical field. TIPS is part of the Russian Academy of Sciences and has expertise in the fields of petrochemical engineering, oil refining, polymers, membrane and materials. TIPS has developed the new conversion method in recent years and has asked TNO to look for interested parties.

We already undertake research projects together on a regular basis but now we are complementing each other in a different way. TIPS does fundamental research while TNO develops applied knowledge. We have an extensive international network of industrial companies and research institutes, and know what their main interests are. Moreover, TIPS knows our reputation for project management, technological knowledge and marketing technologies.

—Dr. Jean-Marie Bassett

Resources

• Kolesnikova, E.; Kitaev, L.; Biryukova, E.; Kolesnichenko, N.; Khadzhiev, S. (2013) Conversion of dimethyl ether to hydrocarbons over structurally organized zeolite catalysts modified with titanium and sulfur. Petroleum Chemistry Vol. 53 Issue 1, p33 doi: 10.1134/S0965544113010064