The China University of Petroleum (East China) has introduced the metal atoms into the mordenite zeolite framework by means of the in‐situ modification method to obtain the metal modified zeolite with a strong interactive and stable structure.The metal centers and acid centers by virtue of the synergistic action can accelerate the dissociation of dimethyl ether (DME)molecules in the 8‐membered‐ring channels located at the catalyst’s pocket side.The said channels can dynamically restrict the side reactions to achieve very high ethylene selectivity.Furthermore, the introduction of symmetric Gemini type quaternary ammonium salt surfactant can increase the dispersancy of metal active centers.

In an embodiment example, the mordenite zeolite,which was modified in‐situ by the hydrogen‐type copper, was used as the catalyst under conditions covering a reaction temperature of 350 ℃,a normal reaction pressure and a DME space velocity of 1000 h‐1.After the reaction was carried out for one hour, the DME conversion reached around 99%, and the ethylene selectivity was equal to 77%.