New method of synthesis of hierarchical mordenite of high crystallinity and its application in hydroizomerization of benzene-n-heptane mixture

Abstract

A new approach to the formation of hierarchical porous structure of mordenite without use of templates is suggested in the presented work. The method is based on the crystallization of mordenite in granules consisting of amorphous aluminosilicate (metakaolin), fumed silica and mordenite crystals, provided that the crystalline phase content must be higher than that of the amorphous phase. The synthesized material is characterized by high crystallinity (up to 92%) with the volume of micro-, meso- and macro-pores of 0.15, 0.20 and 0.18 cm3/g, respectively. The research results showed that MOR type zeolite with a hierarchical structure in the H-form has total acidity in ammonia of about 860 µmol/g and after promotion of 0.3% wt platinum exhibits high activity and selectivity in the hydroisomerization of a model mixture of benzene–heptane into methylcyclopentane and isomers of n-heptane.