Catalytic Cracking of RP-3 Jet Fuel over Pt/CeO2–Al2O3 by Adding Cu/ZSM-5

Abstract

Cu/ZSM-5 (CZ) zeolite and Pt/CeO2–Al2O3 (PCA) composite catalysts (PCA, PCA + CZ, and CZ) were prepared using the impregnation method, the as-prepared catalysts were characterized using an automatic adsorption instrument, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Catalytic cracking of Chinese number 3 jet fuel (RP-3) was used to examine the catalytic activities and thermal stabilities of the as-prepared catalysts. It was found that PCA + CZ had better catalytic cracking activities and high-temperature stabilities compared to the other catalysts. This is in well accordance with an increase in the strong acid amount and the appearance of a bimodal structure of PCA + CZ. Rapid deactivation of the heat sink over CZ at 700 °C was possibly caused by their poor stabilities under high temperatures. The addition of CZ onto PCA to form a composite catalyst may be an effective approach to maintain both catalytic activity and thermal stability (>650 °C).