İZMİR INSTITUTE of TECHNOLOGY
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Project Name

Effect of Acidity of Zeolite Based Catalysts on 1-Butene Izomerization
Supporting Foundation

DPT

Project Manager

Assist. Prof. Selahattin Yılmaz

Project Researchers

 Prof. Levent ARTOK,Prof. Gönül GÜNDÜZ (Ege Üniv., Kimya Müh.),Assist. Prof. Oğuz BAYRAKTAR, Postgraduate Student. Öniz BİRSOY

Project Budget

65,000,000,000 TL
Abstract : Solid acid catalysts are among the catalysts mostly used in petroleum refining and chemical industries. Studies on the use of zeolites as acid catalysts in organic reactions over the last 10 years has increased significantly. Isomerization of n-butenes to isobutene is one of these reactions. An efficient catalyst for this reaction is being invetigated.

Iso-butene is an important material for the methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE) production which is used as an octane number enhancer in gasoline. Recently, activities and selectivities of synthetic zeolites (e.g., ZSM-5, ZSM-22, Mordenite, Ferrierite) are being investigated for this reaction. These studies showed that 10 membered ring zeolites (ZSM-5, ZSM22) are much more active and selective than other aliminosilicates. However, their yield is still low (around % 40). By-products formation is related to pore size and zeolite acidity. ZSM-5 and ZSM-22 have both Bronsted and Lewis acid sites. The distribution of acidity density and their location can effect the selectivity of the catalysts. The acidity of zeolites can be varied by changing the silica to alumina ratio (in tetrahedra) by synthesis, by de-alumiation and and also by ion exchange.

In this study, the effect of zeolite acidity on 1-butene isomerisation reation will be investigated. ZSM-5, ZSM-22 and natural zeolite clinoptilolite having different acidities will be prepared. ZSM-5 and ZSM-22 zeolit catalysts will be prepared by synthesis, de-alumination and ion exchange. De-alumination will be carried out with HCl and HNO3 solution of different concentrations. For ion exchange NH4Cl will be used and zeolites in H-form will be prepared. Clinoptilolite catalysts of different acidity will be prepared similarly. The activity and selectivity of the prepared catalysts will be tested for 1-butene isomerisation reaction.