Aromatics are ubiquitous in hydrocarbon chemistry. During alcohol conversion into hydrocarbons they can play an active or deactivating role in the hydrocarbon pool mechanism and during the catalytic cracking of alkanes and alkenes they deactivate the catalyst. Studies on the aromatic formation in zeolitic materials are rather limited and suggest two possible mechanisms, depicted in Figure 1. One possible mechanism is based on the oligomerization and cyclization of olefins as crucial steps. [1] Another possible explanation for the formation of aromatic intermediates might be the cycloaddition reactions between conjugated dienes and alkenes, known as Diels-Alder type reactions. These type of reactions have already been reported in zeolites containing dehydrogenation metallic sites and acidic sites [2] and for furan conversion into aromatics and olefins over Brønsted and Lewis acidic zeolites in the area of biomass upgrading. [3]

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the possible reaction mechanisms for the formation of aromatics, namely oligomerization and cyclization (a) and Diels-Alder type reactions (b).

Aromatic intermediates are of particular interest in H-SAPO-34, used for the methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process, since the topology of this catalyst permits the formation of aromatics, which play an active role in the methanol conversion. The interest in the conversion of methanol over zeolitic materials to hydrocarbons (MTH) or olefins has grown the last decades, since it is one of the most prominent technologies to bypass crude oil in light olefin production. Intensive research to elucidate the mechanism governing the methanol conversion has shown that the zeolitic material is aided by an organic co-catalyst that is occluded in the framework. Reaction cycles based on hydrocarbons as co-catalysts are known as the hydrocarbon pool (HP) mechanism. Although the production of olefins with aromatics as co-catalysts is generally accepted, there is still no consensus on the origin of these aromatics formed during the early stages.

Goal

The objective of this master thesis is to propose reaction mechanisms for the formation of aromatics in H-SAPO-34 and check their feasibility at realistic MTO reaction conditions. To this end first principle chemical kinetics simulations will be performed on various elementary reactions leading to aromatic species. It is the intention to particularly study the influence of water on the proposed reactions. Recent studies have shown that the addition of water to the methanol feed of the MTO process delays the aromatic formation and increases the stability of the H-SAPO-34 catalyst. [4] Furthermore, water is found to have an influence on the activation of propylene in the dimerization as shown in Figure 2. [4] Therefore, the effect of water on the feasible mechanisms will be assessed.

Figure 2. Representation of the blocking of the active site by the addition of water, deactivating propylene for dimerization. [4]

Simulation of such effects however requires the application of several advanced molecular simulation techniques, which rely on first principle static and molecular dynamics simulations. The Center for Molecular Modeling has built up vast expertise in these advanced simulation techniques and collaborates on the subject with leading experimental and theoretical partners. The student will be actively coached to get acquainted with the plethora of techniques needed to tackle the proposed problem. It is the intention to involve the student actively in the work discussions with our collaborators. The CMM has access to sufficient computational resources to execute this research project. The proposed topic is challenging and requires technical skills, creativity and chemical insight.