Synthesis of SAPO-34 using polyacrylamide enhances the catalyst lifetime and selectivity of light olefins in MTO

Abstract

The industry is under increasing pressure to develop economically and environmentally feasible manufacturing pathways for light olefins, driven by growing global demand from rising consumption and emerging economies. In this context,, the Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) process stands out as a highly effective and practical substitute. SAPO-34 was synthesised with morpholine and tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) using polymeric hydrogel polyacrylamide (PAM) as a soft template. Crystal form and acid site distribution were used to influence particle size. The physical and chemical characteristics of the catalyst were thoroughly examined using techniques like BET, FTIR, NH3-TPD, XRD, and FESEM.The creation of hierarchical porous structures, improved accessibility to catalytic active sites, decreased crystal size, and enhanced specific surface area were all demonstrated by the results. Furthermore, with a catalyst lifetime of up to 1140 minutes and a selectivity of 96% for light olefins, the evaluated samples demonstrated exceptional catalytic performance in the MTO process.