US9468914: Process for the preparation of phosphorous containing mesoporous alumina catalyst for selective dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether

The invention provides an improved process for the preparation of phosphorous containing mesoporous alumina catalyst for selective dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether. The process provides a single-step selective vapor phase dehydration of methanol to produce dimethyl ether over phosphorous containing mesoporous alumina (P/Al2OM3) catalyst at a temperature in the range of 150-3500C. The process provides methanol conversion of 45-100 percent with a selectivity of the DME up to 100 percent.