CATALYTIC CRACKING OF TETRALIN ON HY ZEOLITE

Catalytic reactions of tetralin have been studied on HY zeolite at 400-degrees-C. Product distributions have been obtained over a range of conversions so that both initial reaction processes and secondary reactions can be identified. The initial reactions of tetralin include isomerization to methylindans and a set of complex bimolecular processes involving both cracking and hydrogen transfer. Products derived from naphthalene and benzene are the major species resulting from these bimolecular processes. Detailed examination of initial product selectivities and a carbon balance show that a complete set of simple reaction processes cannot be easily established.