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Partial Incorporation of La3+ in Beta Zeolite for Isobutane/1-Butene Alkylation

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Abstract

The incorporation of La3+ cations in different degrees in beta zeolite (Si/Al = 12.5) was studied in order to improve the selectivity and stability of the catalysts for the alkylation of isobutane with butenes in gas phase to obtain trimethylpentanes (TMPs). La/Al ratios between 0.04 and 0.20 were achieved, representing between 10 and 60 percent of the available exchange sites. The different amounts of lanthanum incorporated led to different quantities, strength and nature of acid sites, without extensive detriment to the structural properties. For a molar La/Al ratio of approximately 0.16, a catalyst with a suitable proportion of strong Brønsted sites was obtained, which favored hydride transfer and cracking reactions, thus allowing a faster desorption of TMPs and avoiding polymerization and multiple alkylation. As a result, deactivation by coke deposition was decelerated. Higher La/Al ratios led to lower acid strength and higher proportion of Lewis sites, which promoted polymerization, while lower ratios led to stronger sites which gave place to excessive cracking.

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Acknowledgements

The authors want to acknowledge the financial support by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica (PICT 2018-3634), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP 2017-469), and Universidad Nacional del Litoral (CAID 2016 654 50420150100046LI and CAID 2020 50620190100153LI).

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  1. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica (INCAPE), CONICET/UNL, RN168, Km 0, (3000), Santa Fe, Argentina

    Lucas G. Tonutti, Maira A. Maquirriain, Carlos A. Querini & Bruno O. Dalla Costa

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Tonutti, L.G., Maquirriain, M.A., Querini, C.A. et al. Partial Incorporation of La3+ in Beta Zeolite for Isobutane/1-Butene Alkylation. Top Catal 65, 1301–1316 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-022-01665-8

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