Effect of Al Content on the Isomerization Performance of Solid Superacid Pd–S2O82−/ZrO2 –Al2O3

The effect of Al content on the performance of the Pd–S2O82−/ZrO2 –Al2O3 solid superacid catalyst was studied using n-pentane isomerization as a probe reaction. The catalysts were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR), specific surface area measurements (BET), thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), H2-temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD). The Pd–S2O82−/ZrO2 –Al2O3 catalyst made from Al2O3 mass fraction of 2.5% exhibited the best performance and its catalytic activity increased by 44.0% compared with Pd–S2O82−/ZrO2. The isopentane yield reached 64.3% at a temperature of 238 °C, a reaction pressure of 2.0 MPa, a space velocity of 1.0 h − 1 and a H2/n-pentane molar ratio of 4.0. No obvious catalyst deactivation was observed within 100 h.

Graphical AbstractThe addition of Al2O3 can promote the formation of the active tetragonal phase and strengthen the combination of the SO, and as a result, the isopentane yield is increased.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide