Investigation of methanol diffusion dynamics in SAPO-34 pores

Zeolites and zeo-type materials with porous architecture are widely used as adsorbents or catalysts in a myriad of commercial petrochemical and environmental processes including production of transportation fuels (such as gasoline) and exhaust after-treatment of an end-pipe of a mobile (car or truck) or stationary source (industrial chimney). The process involves the diffusion of molecules through the zeolite pores to and from the active sites, which are often Brønsted acidic sites. The diffusion characteristics of the reactants and products determine the chemical kinetics of a reaction. The present study aims to understand the diffusion properties of methanol in SAPO-34 material, which is the part of the methanol to olefins (MTO) process that can produce a carbon neutral renewable polyethylene and polypropylene from renewable methanol feed stock. The study enables us to better understand and tune the MTO activity, product selectivity and catalyst stability.