Ni/ZSM-23 Catalysts: Effect of Impregnating Solvent on the Hydroisomerization of n-Hexadecane

Bifunctional catalysts are widely used in the hydroisomerization of long-chain n-alkanes, which are of great significance in the production of high value-added chemicals. Herein, the Ni/ZSM-23-W and Ni/ZSM-23-EG catalysts were prepared using water and ethylene glycol, respectively. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, NH3-TPD, Py-IR, H2-TPR, H2-TPD, ICP-OES, and XPS, and their catalytic performance was evaluated by conducting the hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane as a model reaction. It was revealed that the polarity of the impregnating solvent has a significant impact on the dispersion of Ni nanoparticles. When employing ethylene glycol as a solvent, a strong interaction occurred between NiOx and ZSM-23 in the Ni/ZSM-23-EG catalyst, which facilitated the formation of small-sized and well-dispersed Ni nanoparticles. Consequently, the Ni/ZSM-23-EG catalyst demonstrated a strong hydrogenation capacity, yielding an impressive 72.9% of iso-hexadecanes yield.