A novel microwave-assisted methanol-to-hydrocarbons process with a structured ZSM-5/SiC foam catalyst: Proof-of-concept and environmental impacts

This study presents a novel combination of microwave irradiation and structured zeolite/SiC foam catalyst to improve the methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH) process as well its environmental sustainability. Accordingly, ZSM-5/SiC was studied under at various reaction temperatures (400–550 °C) space velocities (8 12 h−1) compared conventional ZSM-5 pellets. promoted higher selectivity towards C1−C5 hydrocarbons (∼95%) particularly propylene (∼40% 400 °C 8 pellets 6–9%, respectively) due enhanced mass heat transfers. The microwave-assisted MTH with both also assessed on sustainability via life cycle assessment in comparison conventionally-heat catalyst. results showed that microwave-based could reduce impacts production by 22–30% conventionally-heated same