Comparison of catalytic performances on nanoscale HZSM-5 and microscale HZSM-5

Nanoscale HZSM-5 and microscale HZSM-5 were characterized by NH3–TPD, XRD, SEM and N2 adsorption. The catalytic performance of the disproportionation of toluene, the alkylation of toluene with methanol and the cracking reaction of 1,3,5-TMB and 1,2,4-TMB were investigated. The similar reactivity of the disproportionation of toluene and the alkylation of toluene with methanol was obtained over nanoscale HZSM-5 and microscale HZSM-5. The reactivity of 1,3,5-TMB and 1,2,4-TMB over microscale HZSM-5 and nanoscale HZSM-5 was different because the different accessible acid sites and reactant molecule. The reason for the high proportion of external acid sites on ZSM-5 was also discussed.