Heterogeneous Alkane Reactions over Nanoporous Catalysts

Pt-USY-712 (Si/Al = 6) and three SBA-15 catalysts (metal-loaded with 1 wt% Pt, 1 wt% Ni or 0.5 wt% Pt and 0.5 wt% Ni) were prepd. and characterised using SEM (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption porosimetry / BET and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalysts were then tested in the hydroisomerisation and hydrocracking of n-heptane using a micro-reactor at atm. pressure, and the products were analyzed by GC-FID. Reaction temps. ranged from 250-400oC while the W/F values of n-C7 varied from 224.70-550.57 kg mol-1. The coke content of each catalyst was measured using thermo gravimetric anal. (TGA). The catalytic activity was highest on Pt-USY-712 at the lowest reaction temps. due to (a) the presence of strong Bronsted acids sites on the zeolite and (b) the smaller and more highly dispersed metal clusters on Pt-USY-712, relative to Pt-SBA-15. The activity was higher on the bimetallic Pt/Ni-SBA-15 than on mono-metallic Pt-SBA-15 as the co-impregnation of Ni with Pt enhanced the distribution of the metal clusters on the catalyst and resulted in improved surface area for reaction. The Pt-SBA-15 and Pt/Ni-SBA-15 catalysts both had the lowest and approx. equal coke percentages with 0.116 and 0.119 wt%, resp. [on SciFinder(R)]