Influence of platinum dispersion on the hydrodearomatization of toluene to light alkanes on Pt/H-ZSM-5

The hydrodearomatization of toluene to light n-alkanes on Pt/H-ZSM-5 catalyst samples in a temperature range of 523–673 K was investigated. It was demonstrated that the metal dispersion and the interaction between metal and acid sites influence the catalytic activity and selectivity. Depending on the Pt dispersion of the prepared catalyst samples, different hydrogenolysis activities were observed. The yield of methane rises with increasing Pt dispersion. This effect can be explained by a change of the electronic properties of the noble metal depending on its vicinity to Brønsted acid sites. Furthermore, the Pt dispersion influences the deactivation behavior. A low dispersion of Pt led to an increased deactivation behavior at a higher time on stream.

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► Influence of the Pt dispersion on the dearomatization of toluene was investigated.
► Depending on the dispersion different hydrogenolysis activities were observed.
► Increasing Pt dispersions are related with enhanced methane formation.
► Low dispersions exhibited a deteriorated time on stream behavior.