Core–shell structured zeolite–zeolite composites comprising Y zeolite cores and nano-β zeolite shells: Synthesis and application in hydrocracking of VGO oil

Abstract

Abstract Zeolite–zeolite composites composed of Y zeolite cores and polycrystalline β zeolite shells were prepared, in which Y zeolite was overgrown with a thin layer of nano-β zeolite. The incompatibility of the cores and the shells with different zeolite structure types, chemical compositions and crystallization conditions was circumvented by using Y zeolite as the nutrients for the growth of β zeolite crystals since the dissolution of the core zeolites was inevitable during the formation of the shell layers. The structural, crystalline, and textural properties of the as-synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, SAED, N2 adsorption–desorption, FT-IR, in situ IR spectra of pyridine and di-tert-butyl pyridine. The performances of the as-synthesized zeolite–zeolite composite supported by Ni–Mo active components were investigated during the hydrocracking of Iran VGO oil. The results displayed that the core–shell structured composites with a high-silicon β zeolite shell displayed a better performance in terms of conversion of VGO oil and yield of jet fuel, middle distillate yields and middle distillate selectivity than the reference catalyst and the composite catalyst with a low-silicon β zeolite shell.