Method for Generating Oxymethylene Ether

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This patent describes a method for producing oxymethylene ethers (OMEs)—compounds with the general formula CH3O-(CH2O)m-CH3 (where 1 ≤ m ≤ 10)—through a liquid-phase catalytic reaction. The process involves reacting methanol, formaldehyde, and/or methyl formate with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing oxidant in the presence of a vanadium-based catalyst (in oxidation state +IV or +V). The catalyst is regenerated during the process, yielding OMEs with high selectivity and minimal by-products. The process can be tuned to produce OMEs of different chain lengths by adjusting reaction conditions and additives.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Additives in diesel fuel to reduce soot emissions and improve combustion efficiency.
• Raw material or intermediate in chemical synthesis, especially for cleaner fuels or solvents.
• Use in fuel blends to meet stricter emission standards in automotive or shipping industries.
• Application in manufacturing processes requiring highly selective OME production with minimal side products.
• Potential use for clean combustion in power generation sectors.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• High selectivity for desired OME compounds, reducing unnecessary and harmful by-products.
• Mild reaction conditions and the possibility to tailor the product chain length (from short to longer OMEs).
• Improved process efficiency through catalyst regeneration and the use of molecular oxygen as the oxidant.
• Simplified downstream processing since fewer undesired by-products are produced.
• Facilitates the production of OMEs which, as diesel fuel additives, can significantly reduce soot emissions and environmental pollutants.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing oxymethylene ether of the general formula CH3O-(CH2O)m-CH3 in a liquid phase process, wherein 1 ≤ m ≤ 10. In a catalytic reaction, molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing oxidizing agent and methanol, formaldehyde, and/or methyl formate are used as reactants in a solution and are reacted by means of a vanadium-oxygen compound, which contains vanadium in the oxidation stage +IV or +V, or a salt thereof as a catalyst in the solution. The catalyst which is reduced during the catalytic reaction is restored to its starting state in an oxidation process using the molecular oxygen or the oxygen-containing oxidizing agent.