SYNTHESIS OF THE CATALYST FOR THE PROCESS OF ALKYLATION OF BENZENE BY ETHYLENE

Abstract

As a result of the research, a catalyst was synthesized for the alkylation of benzene with ethylene based on zeolite ZSM-5 without binders. To obtain a catalyst mix 24 - 37 wt. % powdered zeolite ZSM-5 with 7 - 11 wt. % kaolin, 53 - 60 wt. % ground silica gel and 3 - 5 wt. % of oligomeric orthosilicic acid esters. The mixture is moistened, molded into granules by extrusion, then dried and calcined in an atmosphere of air. Then the granules are subjected to hydrothermal crystallization in the reaction mixture of the composition (3,0 - 4,0)Na2O ∙ (0,5 - 2,3)R ∙ Al2O3× ×(60 - 80)SiO2 ∙ (450 - 900)H2O, washed with demineralized water, treated aqueous solutions of ammonium salts to a degree of substitution of Na+ cations in the zeolite at least 97 %, again washed with demineralized water, dried and calcined. Using the synthesized catalyst, alkylation of benzene with ethylene is carried out at a temperature of 400 °C, a pressure of 2,5 MPa, a mass ratio of benzene : ethylene 18 : 1, and a bulk flow rate of benzene of 15 h - 1. The catalyst provides a high content (18,2 - 18,8 wt. %) of ethylbenzene in the alkylate.