We report a novel catalytic conversion of methanol to C6-C21 hydrocarbons over the bi-functional MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Zn, Mn, Co) catalysts prepared by a solvothermal method. The process consists of two steps: (i) the catalytic reforming of methanol to H-2 and CO, and (ii) the subsequent conversion of the syngas to hydrocarbons via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). For comparison purposes, two other series of catalysts including MO (M = Ni, Zn, Mn, Co, Fe), and M0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 (M = Ni, Zn, Mn) catalysts were also prepared and tested. All the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and H-2-temperature programmed reduction. Among these catalysts, ZnFe2O4 exhibited the highest activity with a high methanol conversion of 26% and a high selectivity to C6-C21 hydrocarbons above 94% at 300 degrees C. Moreover, this ZnFe2O4 catalyst was still stable and reusable after 4 runs under the reaction conditions. This work demonstrates a possibility to directly convert methanol to liquid fuels.

We report a novel catalytic conversion of methanol to C6-C21 hydrocarbons over the bi-functional MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Zn, Mn, Co) catalysts prepared by a solvothermal method. The process consists of two steps: (i) the catalytic reforming of methanol to H-2 and CO, and (ii) the subsequent conversion of the syngas to hydrocarbons via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). For comparison purposes, two other series of catalysts including MO (M = Ni, Zn, Mn, Co, Fe), and M0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 (M = Ni, Zn, Mn) catalysts were also prepared and tested. All the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and H-2-temperature programmed reduction. Among these catalysts, ZnFe2O4 exhibited the highest activity with a high methanol conversion of 26% and a high selectivity to C6-C21 hydrocarbons above 94% at 300 degrees C. Moreover, this ZnFe2O4 catalyst was still stable and reusable after 4 runs under the reaction conditions. This work demonstrates a possibility to directly convert methanol to liquid fuels.