Controlling coke deactivation and cracking selectivity of MFI zeolite by H3PO4 or KOH modification

Eva Epelde, José I. Santos, Pierre Florian, Andrés T. Aguayo, Ana G. Gayubo, Javier Bilbao, Pedro Castaño*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of the basic (KOH) or acid (H3PO4) treatment of the MFI (HZSM-5) zeolite has been studied comparing the structural and acidic features with the catalytic performance and deactivation of a set of unmodified and modified zeolites (SiO2/Al2O3 = 30-280, 0-3 wt% of K or P). The properties of the catalysts have been elucidated using XRD, 27Al and 29Si NMR, N2 adsorption-desorption, and adsorption-TPD of tert-butylamine. The catalytic performance has been evaluated in the cracking of 1-butene by means of initial, 5 h on-stream activity and coke formation. Our results point to the fact that using zeolites with high SiO2/Al2O3 ratio or neutralizing the strongest acid sites with KOH or H3PO4 increases propylene selectivity while decreases 1-butene conversion. The overall pathway of reaction involves propylene and other olefins as primary products that condensate in further steps to aromatics and ultimately to coke. This pathway can be controlled with less severe acidic features and by desilication with KOH or H3PO4 (particularly with the former).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)105-115
Number of pages11
JournalApplied Catalysis A: General
Volume505
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 11 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acidity modification
  • Coke deactivation
  • Oligomerization-cracking
  • Propylene
  • ZSM-5 zeolite

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Process Chemistry and Technology

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