Synthesis of ITQ-2 Zeolites and Catalytic Performance in n-Dodecane Cracking

ITQ-2 zeolites were prepared by sequential alkali-swelling and ultrasonic-delamination of precursor MCM-22 and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, ammonia temperature-programmed desorption and in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The delamination induced a change in the morphology of ITQ-2 zeolites from aggregated thin platelets to scattered platelets, together with a significant increase in external specific surface area, which reached a plateau at the ultrasonic treatment time of 3 h. The catalytic cracking of n-dodecane over ITQ-2 zeolites was evaluated with ITQ-2 coated on the inside wall of a tubular reactor at 550 °C and 4 MPa. The sample obtained by ultrasonic treatment of 3 h (ITQ-2-3) gave the highest initial conversion of n-dodecane, whereas those of 5 h and 1 h gave the conversion even lower than MCM-22, which was in agreement with the trend of the ratio of strong Lewis acid to the total acid amount. Although the amount of cokes deposited on ITQ-2-3 was larger than that on MCM-22, the former deactivated slowly, suggesting that a large external specific surface area benefits the stability of zeolite coatings.

Graphic abstractThe morphology, external specific surface area, acid site properties and catalytic cracking performance of ITQ-2 zeolite could be affected greatly by the degree of delamination. The zeolite catalyst obtained by ultrasonic treatment of 3 h (ITQ-2-3) gave the highest initial conversion of n-dodecane.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide