Synthesis, structure, and acidity regulation of ZSM-12 zeolite in alkane isomerization

ZSM-12 zeolite features with one-dimensional pore channel and MTW topology structure has drawn widespread attention for isomerization (ISO) reactions involving long-chain alkanes due to their regulatable morphology, pore structure, and acidity. Hitherto, ZSM-12 has been synthesized by hydrothermal and self-assembly methods. The advent of these methodologies has prompted researchers to prepare well-defined networks with customized structure and acidity. In this paper, the research progresses of synthesis, structure, and acidity of ZSM-12 zeolite and their applications in the alkane ISO were reviewed. The effect of synthetic strategies on the basic structure, surface acidity, as well as the catalytic performances of ZSM-12 zeolite in ISO reactions, such as the n-hexadecane were systematically reviewed and discussed, and the reaction mechanism resulted from the variation of the above factors were clarified. This review therefore may help researchers to deeply understand the important effect of ZSM-12 zeolite in the alkane ISO reaction and shine light on the design and development of more efficient catalyst for alkane ISO in the future.