Kinetic modeling and conceptual design of the OME synthesis from trioxane and dimethyl ether on H-ZSM-5

This work presents a new nine-parameter kinetic model for the synthesis of oxymethylene ethers (OME) from
dimethyl ether (DME) and trioxane (TRI) on the zeolite H-ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 40), which according to recent studies
is an active and selective catalyst for this reaction. To establish a database for model parametrization, experi-
ments covering a relevant operating window were performed in a batch reactor with periodic sampling (at
353–393 K and a TRI/DME molar ratio in feed of 0.25–0.70). In addition, the database was enlarged with ex-
periments from a previous work. The model accurately reproduced the data, and the simulations suggest that the
direct incorporation of TRI to form OME$_3$ is the preferred reaction pathway for OME production. Furthermore, an
optimal operating window was identified considering the trade-off between catalyst activity and OME selectivity.
Finally, a conceptual process design for continuous OME production from DME and TRI is proposed.