Issue 8, 2016

Mesoporous EU-1 zeolite as a highly active catalyst for ethylbenzene hydroisomerization

Abstract

The hydroisomerization of ethylbenzene is an important industrial reaction to maximize the production of xylenes, and in particular, para-xylene. Zeolite EU-1 (with EUO topology) is commercially utilized in a physical mixture with a metallic phase (Pt/Al2O3). Herein, we have developed a micro-mesoporous EUO zeolite with a significant volume of intercrystalline mesoporosity to improve its catalytic performance in the industrial hydroisomerization of ethylbenzene. The use of a multivalent cationic surfactant as a capping agent was ideal to prevent uniform crystal growth and their aggregation, and to ensure the potential industrial applicability of the strategy. The corresponding mesoporosity and textural properties of nanosponge-like EUO were tuned according to the amount of the capping agent. The catalytic performance reflected the remarkable impact of a large exposed surface area (up to 55%) and a high amount of easily accessible Brønsted acid sites (up to 29%) in the EU-1 nanosponge on the catalytic yield. Our best catalyst revealed a three-fold increase in the conversion of ethylbenzene with no detrimental effects on the attained hydroisomerization yield. This approach presents a potential industrial capability in a wide range of catalytic applications as evidenced here in the hydroisomerization of ethylbenzene.

Graphical abstract: Mesoporous EU-1 zeolite as a highly active catalyst for ethylbenzene hydroisomerization

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 ное 2015
Accepted
10 фев 2016
First published
10 фев 2016

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2016,6, 2735-2741

Mesoporous EU-1 zeolite as a highly active catalyst for ethylbenzene hydroisomerization

F. M. Mota, P. Eliášová, J. Jung and R. Ryoo, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2016, 6, 2735 DOI: 10.1039/C5CY02027A

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