Methanol dehydration process to dimethyl ether (DME)
has been considered
as one of the main routes to produce clean fuel, that is, DME. Thus,
efficient catalysts are highly required for selective production of
DME. Herein, UiO-66 was used as a precursor for the synthesis of zirconium
oxide sulfate embedded carbon (ZrOSO4@C). The synthesis
method involves a one-step carbonization of UiO-66 in the presence
of sulfuric acid (10 wt %). Material characterizations using X-ray
diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared,
and Raman spectroscopy approve the formation of the high crystalline
phase of ZrOSO4@C. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption
isotherms and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirm
the mesopore structure of the materials. Acidity analysis using pyridine
temperature-programmed desorption and isopropanol dehydration corroborates
that ZrOSO4@C has weak and intermediate acidic sites making
ZrOSO4@C an effective catalyst for methanol dehydration
to DME. The materials offered full conversion (100%) with excellent
selectivity (100%) at a relatively low temperature (250 °C).
The catalyst exhibited a long-term stability for 120 h. Based on these
results, DME is produced efficiently in terms of conversion, selectivity,
and long-term stability.