METHYLCYCLOHEXANE DEHYDROGENATION AND N-BUTANE HYDROGENOLYSIS ON RH/YNAME (ME=CA, SR, BA, LA) ZEOLITE CATALYSTS

Rhodium supported on NaY and NaMeY zeolites (Me = Ca, Sr, Ba, La) with 10% equivalent exchange have been used as catalysts for methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation and for hydrogenolysis of n-butane. The catalysts containing 2 wt.% Rhodium showed differences in the metal reductibility, metal dispersion, metal location into the zeolite and catalytic activity. The reported data suggest that the differences in catalytic behaviour of the Rh/YNaMe zeolites can be attributed to the electron deficient rhodium clusters generated upon hydrogen reduction.