Preparation of silicalite-1@Pt/alumina core–shell catalyst for shape-selective hydrogenation of xylene isomers

• A silicalite-1@Pt/alumina catalyst was synthesized with a core–shell structure.
• The developed core–shell catalyst combined molecular sieving and hydrogenation.
• This catalyst showed high para-selectivity in the hydrogenation of xylene isomers.

A silicalite-1@Pt/alumina core–shell catalyst that combined molecular sieving and hydrogenation was synthesized by coating silicalite-1 onto the surface of Pt/alumina pellet. While a Pt/alumina catalyst had no selectivity in the hydrogenation of xylene isomers, the silicalite-1@Pt/alumina core–shell catalyst showed much higher efficiency for the hydrogenation of p-xylene than for that of m- and o-xylene. The shape-selective hydrogenation catalyst has great potential for application in xylene separation.

Coating a silicalite-1 zeolite membrane onto the surface of a Pt/alumina pellet leads to a core–shell catalyst coupling molecular sieving and hydrogenation. The core–shell catalyst showed excellent para-selectivity as well as reaction efficiency for the shape-selective hydrogenation of xylene isomers.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide