Alkylation of Benzene with Propylene in a Flow-Through Membrane Reactor and Fixed-Bed Reactor: Preliminary Results

Benzene alkylation with propylene was studied in the gas phase using a catalytic membrane reactor and a fixed-bed reactor in the temperature range of 200-300 degrees C and with a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 51 h(-1). beta-zeolite was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis using silica, aluminum metal and TEAOH as precursors. The membrane's XRD patterns showed good crystallinity for the beta-zeolite film, while scanning electron microscopy SEM results indicated that its random polycrystalline film was approximately 1 mu m thick. The powders' specific area was determined to be 400 m(2).g(-1) by N-2 adsorption/desorption, and the TPD results indicated an overall acidity of 3.4 mmol NH3 center dot g(-1). Relative to the powdered catalyst, the catalytic membrane showed good activity and product selectivity for cumene.