On the co-conversion of methanol and ethanol to olefins and ethers

Coupling endothermic ethanol dehydration and exothermic methanol-to-olefins (MTO) conversion within an autothermal reactor unit could be a thermodynamically attractive pathway for the selective production of light olefins from flexibly sourced sustainable feedstocks. However, the integration of both reactions into a single apparatus requires fundamental research regarding catalyst deactivation, combined reaction kinetics, suitable reaction conditions as well as reactor and process design. This mini-review provides a critical overview on the current state of science for the co-conversion of ethanol and methanol to ethers and olefins, with an emphasis on potential implications for sustainable aviation fuel production. With most available research dealing with the coconversion of ethanol and methanol focusing on etherification at T < 300 °C, an understanding of the influence of simultaneous ethanol dehydration on MTO remains incomplete. However, suppressing the aromatization of ethylene appears critical for increasing the olefin yield and maximizing the catalyst lifetime. Thus, a need for systematic studies on competitive adsorption phenomena, as well as the influence of the catalyst properties and reaction conditions on the product distribution emerges.