Abstract
The conversion of light (C 2 to C 4) alkanes to aromatics, chiefly benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX), can be accomplished using zeolites of the ZSM-5 type. The conversion to aromatics is not completely selective. Light alkenes, the probable reaction intermediates, together with light alkanes, are formed in addition to the BTX components. On H-ZSM-5, all the hydrogen atoms lost on aromatization of the reactant alkane seem to appear in the products as light alkanes. It has been found that, when propane is used as the reactant at 500°C and 0.1 MPa, the BTX selectivity can be increased from ca. 10% (H-ZSM-5) to ca. 40 to 45% after treatment of the base zeolite with solutions of zinc or gallium nitrate, such that the final zinc or gallium content is ca. 1.0 mass-%. A comparative study of the conversion of propane, n-butane and i-butane over Zn-ZSM-5 reveals that the alkanes differ in terms of activity and BTX selectivity. i-Butane is the most reactive of the three alkanes and also yields the highest percentage hydrogen recovery as dihydrogen. However, it displays the lowest BTX selectivity.
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