Recent progress on MTO reaction mechanisms and regulation of acid site distribution in the zeolite framework

Methanol to olefins (MTO) is an important non-petroleum route to produce value-added chemicals because methanol can be easily obtained from multifarious carbon resources. Despite 50 years of extensive research, MTO remains one of the most interesting topics in energy chemistry and the chemical industry because its complex reaction network consists of numerous elementary steps. The reaction mechanism and product distribution in MTO are closely related to the location of the acid site in the zeolite framework, which determines the surrounding environment of acid center and shape selectivity of the pore channel. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on MTO reaction mechanisms, evaluate the influence of acid site distribution in zeolite on MTO and other reactions involving methanol, and identify some methods for regulating Al positions or acid sites in the zeolite framework. This review provides a basis for understanding and investigating MTO reaction mechanisms and designing highly efficient MTO catalysts.