Dimethyl ether is the precursor to the useful alkylating agent, trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate. Its usefulness is limited by its low boiling point (−23 ☌ (−9 ☏)), but the same property facilitates its removal from reaction mixtures. The largest use of dimethyl ether is as the feedstock for the production of the methylating agent, dimethyl sulfate, which entails its reaction with sulfur trioxide:ĭimethyl ether can also be converted into acetic acid using carbonylation technology related to the Monsanto acetic acid process: (CHĢO + 2 CO + H 2O → 2 CH 3CO 2H Laboratory reagent and solvent ĭimethyl ether is a low-temperature solvent and extraction agent, applicable to specialised laboratory procedures. The Volvo Group is the coordinator for the European Community Seventh Framework Programme project BioDME where Chemrec's BioDME pilot plant is based on black liquor gasification in Piteå, Sweden. The EU is considering BioDME in its potential biofuel mix in 2030 It can also be made from biogas or methane from animal, food, and agricultural waste, or even from shale gas or natural gas. From biomass ĭimethyl ether is a synthetic second generation biofuel (BioDME), which can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass. A one-step liquid-phase process is in development. The two-step process is relatively simple and start-up costs are relatively low. īoth the one-step and two-step processes above are commercially available. Other possible improvements call for a dual catalyst system that permits both methanol synthesis and dehydration in the same process unit, with no methanol isolation and purification. The required methanol is obtained from synthesis gas ( syngas). Approximately 50,000 tons were produced in 1985 in Western Europe by dehydration of methanol: 2 CH 3OH → (CH 3) 2O + H 2O
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