Preparation of a new solid acid and its catalytic performance in di(1-naphthyl)methane hydrocracking

A new solid acid catalyst prepared by trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMSA) impregnation into an acid-treated attapulgite (ATA) specifically hydrocracked di(1-naphthyl)methane to naphthalene and 1-methylnaphthalene over TFMSA/ATA at 300 °C in methanol without gaseous hydrogen.