N-Pentane Isomerization Over Pt- and Ni–Pt-Promoted Sulfated Zirconia Catalysts Supported on Alumina

Abstract

Two series of sulfated zirconia catalysts promoted with Pt and Pt–Ni, respectively, were prepared and extruded with different amount of alumina binder (0, 20, 33, and 60 wt%). The catalytic activities of the two series of catalysts, SZPtA and SZNiPtA, were measured for n-pentane isomerization reaction. The reaction reaches its maximum conversion at 20 wt% of alumina for both catalyst series. Adding alumina beyond 20 wt% reduces the overall conversion and modifies the selectivity for both catalysts series from i-C4 towards i-C5 suggesting that the reaction mechanism changed from a monomolecular to a bimolecular one. However, only SZNiPtA catalysts maintain a higher catalytic activity at higher amounts of alumina. Such difference between the two catalyst series can be attributed to the combining effect of Ni and Pt promotion of the SZNiPtA catalysts and not to their acidic properties.