Development of an efficient catalyst and process concept for the synthesis of aromatics as chemical raw materials and octane boosters from CO2-neutral methanol

To date, aromatics have been obtained almost exclusively from fossil sources and can be found in a wide variety of products such as plastics, adhesives and lubricants, paints and varnishes, medicines, surfactants and solvents. The methanol-to-aromatics (MtA) route offers the potential to regeneratively produce BTX aromatics (benzene, toluene and xylene) as important chemical raw materials and fuel components. For this purpose, methanol is produced from regenerative synthesis gas (H2, CO/CO2) and catalytically converted into aromatic hydrocarbons. Catalysts that coke in a short time are state of the art, whereby the selectivity of aromatics also decreases significantly. In the research project, the selectivity and long-term stability of these catalysts will be significantly increased through knowledge-based catalyst development.

One promising approach is to load metal promoters onto the catalyst, which support the aromatization reactions of the hydrocarbons. At the same time, regeneration strategies are developed and the aromatic mixtures are evaluated with regard to their physicochemical properties such as soot formation tendency during engine combustion and separation into pure substances for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Finally, the application of the MtA process with the modified catalysts in individual plants and refinery networks, taking into account the product separation into pure aromatics, is investigated by means of process modeling.

This project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy pursuant to a resolution of the German Bundestag (IGF Project 01IF24702N).

The grant award notice from the BMWE has been received. The project will begin on February 1, 2026.