Nickeland Rhenium-Containing Sulfated Zirconia Catalyst for Simultaneous Benzene Alkylation and Alkanes Isomerization
Nickel and rhenium promoted sulfated zirconia (SZ) was investigated as a catalyst for conversion of benzene-n-hexane mixture. This reaction may be used for benzene content decreasing through transformation of the latter to C7-C9 arenes by alkylation with the products of alkanes cracking. It has been shown that simultaneous benzene alkylation and n-hexane isomerization proceeds on sulfated zirconia and it is characterized with drastic deactivation due to accumulation of polycyclic aromatic compounds. Promotion of SZ with Ni and Re increases the activity in conversion of benzene and n-hexane mixture. The main pathways for benzene transformation are alkylation and hydrogenation and the main reaction for n-hexane is isomerization. Promoting effect of Ni and Re is associated with the stabilization of the activity of sulfated zirconia. The role of nickel in this case is activation of hydrogen and hydrogenation of coke precursors and the role of rhenium is hydrogenolysis of coke precursors.