Initial cracking properties and physicochemical characterization of acid-leached small-port (SP) and large-port (LP) mordenites by pulse n-hexane cracking, infrared and 27Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract

Small- and large-port mordenite zeolites have been characterized by ²⁷Al m.a.s.n.m.r. and infrared spectroscopy to evaluate the observed changes in catalytic properties as a function of the dealumination degree. As a test reaction, n-hexane cracking was used. A dual Lewis–Brønsted cracking mechanism, together with a specific structural change upon dealumination, is proposed to be responsible for the high activity of some of these H-mordenites.