Catalytic conversion of alkylaromatic over micro-mesoporous catalysts in the gas-solid fixed bed reactor in order to produce olefins

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the synthesis and characterization of micro-mesoporous catalysts and their application in model reaction of conversion of isopropylbenzene in fixed bed continuous flow catalytic microreactor in order to produce oefins. The micro-mesoporous catalysts of HZSM-5/MCM-41 and La/HZSM-5/MCM-41 were synthesized by the mechanosynthesis and wet impregnation, respectively. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, and through reaction with model molecule. Isopopylbenzene (cumene) was used as model molecule and the conversion to olefins was measured by propylene formation. The X-ray diffractograms indicated that the synthesized catalysts exhibit characteristic peaks of the microporous structure (ZSM-5) and mesoporous structure (MCM-41). For catalysts containing lanthanum, peaks due to the presence of lanthanum oxide were also identified. The results indicated that the composite catalyst La/HZSM-5/MCM-41 was the most promising in the conversion of cumene and propene production.