Synthesis of catalyst using microwave technique for alkane Isomerization

The present research is focus on the synthesis of highly acidic zirconia material for the isomerization of n-hexane. Microwave irradiation used to synthesis of zirconia. Sulphation of zirconia was carried out with sulphuric acid. Material has been characterized by various state of art equipment, viz. BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, XRD, SEM, FTIR, NH3-TPD and H-2-TPR. Surface area and pore volume of zirconia was found to be 135m(2)/g 0.29 cm(3)/g respectively. Impregnation of tungstophosphoric acid (WPA) was carried out by wet incipient method. 50 wt % WPA was impregnated over the support and the total acidity was reported to be 0.091 - 0.612 mmol/g. catalyst was tested for the isomerization of n-hexane using fixed bed micro reactor at the temperature range 150-250 degrees C. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.