Against the backdrop of increasingly constrained traditional petroleum-based routes, the conversion technology of C1 platform molecules with methanol as the core has emerged as a crucial alternative to produce fundamental chemicals through non-petroleum pathways.
Schematic depiction of the application of ssNMR spectroscopy during methanol conversion to olefins and ethanol process (Image by NIU Jing and DING Xinzhi)
In a review article published inChemical Society Reviews, a research group led by Prof. Shutao Xu, Prof. Yingxu Wei, and Prof. Zhongmin Liu from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), provide a comprehensive overview of theapplication ofsolid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR)spectroscopyin the methanol to olefin (MTO) and dimethyl ether carbonylation (DME carbonylation, which is a key reaction in the methanol to ethanol process) reactions.The review highlights the pivotal role of ssNMRspectroscopy in identifying key intermediates, unraveling dynamic catalytic mechanisms, probing host–guest interactions, analyzing diffusion behavior, and elucidating the unique role of water in these complex reactions.In situssNMR spectroscopy enables dynamic observation of catalytic processes under reaction conditions, offering valuable information on the behavior of working catalysts. Additionally, two-dimensional ssNMR has revealed host–guest interactions at the molecular/atomic levels, providing foundational understanding of reaction pathways and interface information.
The authors also point out that the critical challenge in bridging fundamental studies with industrial MTO/DMTO technologies resides in validating the relevance of laboratory-observed phenomena to industrial reactor environments. Fundamental research needs to consult the results of industrial applications to continuously optimize the theoretical system developed in laboratory, thereby promoting technological progress and industrial upgrading.
“This review aims to bridge fundamental understandings of reaction mechanisms with practical applications, including rationalization of catalysts, optimization of catalytic performance, and improvement of industrial processes,” said Prof. Xu.
Bridging Molecular Mechanism and Industrial Process of Zeolite-catalyzed Methanol Conversion to Olefins and Ethanol by Advanced Solid-state NMR Spectroscopy. Jing Niu,Xinzhi Ding,Shutao Xu*, Yingxu Wei, Zhongmin Liu*, Chemical Society Reviews,2025.
