Insight into the role of mesoporosity in the selective production of propene from methanol

Microporous ZSM-5, hierarchical and ZSM-11 zeolites with different crystalline sizes were prepared to determine the relations of mesoporosity catalytic performance in methanol-to-propene reaction. The physicochemical properties investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Temperature-Programmed Desorption, sorption techniques. It was shown that low pore tortuosity, structure, reduction crystal size all can shorten diffusion path reduce resistance, leading increase propylene yield. By comparison, propene yield increment mesoporous volume due tortuosity is more effective than other aspects. For silica–alumina zeolites, way resistance selectivity lower degree, then introduce structure grain size.