The Synthesis of Polyoxymethylene Dimethyl Ethers for New Diesel Blending Component

Abstract

Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers are a new type of diesel fuel additive, and are synthesized by using trioxymethylene and methanol as raw material and ionic liquid as catalyst. In the experiment, the effect of catalyst dosage, ratio of raw materials, reaction temperature, time and pressure, and reusing times of catalyst were studied. The results showed that when the reaction was carried out under the conditions of 5 wt% catalyst, m(Trioxymethylene)/m(Methanol) 1.5, temperature 110°C, time 4 h, pressure 2.0 MPa, conversion of trioxymethylene is 94.25%. The ionic liquids could be reused five times without noticeable drop in activity.