Fundamentals of the catalytic conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons

For more than four decades, the methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH) reaction has been a successful route to producing valuable fuels and chemicals from non-petroleum feedstocks. This review provides the most comprehensive summary to date of recent research concerning the mechanistic fundamentals of this important reaction, covering different reaction stages. Mechanisms that have been proposed to explain the initial C-C bond formation during the induction stage of the MTH reaction are introduced, including the methoxymethyl cation, Koch carbonylation, carbene and methane-formaldehyde processes. At present, there is no consensus regarding these hypothetical mechanisms as a consequence of the limited amount of conclusive experimental evidence. The steady state of the MTH reaction is also examined with a focus on the widely accepted indirect hydrocarbon pool mechanism and the dual cycle concept that provides a mechanistic basis for the effects of zeolite structures and reaction conditions on product distribution. In the following section, advanced characterization techniques capable of providing new insights into the formation of coke species during the MTH reaction and innovative approaches effectively inhibiting coke formation are introduced. Finally, a summary is provided and perspectives on current challenges and the future development of this area are presented.