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• The reactor is charged with approximately 100g of zeolite catalyst. The reactor jacket temperature is brought to steady state at 340^oC while nitrogen gas flows inside the reactor in order to activate the catalyst. This start up process takes 1-2 hours. Then nitrogen flow is stopped and methanol is pumped into the reactor using a single syringe infusion pump. Thermocouples are used to monitor the reactor temperature. A schematic of the process is shown below.

  

• During the early stages of the reaction, methanol is vaporized and converted to dimethyl ether and water. The initial hydrocarbons are rich in lighter olefins, and as reaction time is increased, higher olefins and aromatic hydrocarbons are formed. The product vapors are sent to a condenser. Part of the organic vapors that have not been condensed can be captured by using a liquid dodecane vapor trap. The aqueous and hydrocarbon product collected are analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy.