Catalyst of Palladium Supported on H-Beta Zeolite with Nanosized Al2O3 for Isomerization of n-Hexane

Synthesis isoparaffins from light naphtha was studied using n-hexane conversion. The main target products were multi-branched isoparaffins. Which are harder to form than mono-branched isoparaffins in the zeolitic pores. Nano-technology was applied to form composites of zeolites and nano-sized (defined as 5-50 nm, and here called us) oxides, to improve the state of metal species for isomerization into multi-branched isoparaffins. Skeletal isomerization of n-hexane was advanced, based on catalyst optimization with 0.1-2 wt% Pt or Pd on 35 wt% ns Al2O3 or ns SiO2 and 65 wt% H-BEA zeolite (SiO2/Al2O3 = 16-39). The presence of ns Al2O3 in the catalyst increased the mechanical strength of the shaped zeolite catalyst and reformed the surface acidity of the zeolite to milder acid suitable for skeletal isomerization without cracking. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the nano-alumina dispersed and combined to the anisotropic surface of BEA zeolite to form an ionic and highly developed surface for palladium dispersion to improve the catalyst activity and selectivity.