A facile way to improve zeolite Y-based catalysts' properties and performance in the isobutane–butene alkylation reaction

Abstract

Different amounts of SiO₂ were added to the Al₂O₃ binders to investigate the binder effect on zeolite Y-based catalysts. The added SiO₂ improved the mesopore volume and acidity of the catalysts. Characterization results showed that the catalysts' acid amount increased with increasing the SiO₂ amount in the binder, which achieved maximum value when 12% SiO₂ was added to the binder. The doped SiO₂ in Al₂O₃ binders improved the Al₂O₃ phase transformation temperature, which is crucial for Al species to break out of the phase energy and migrate into the zeolite. The lifetime of catalyst Y-Al₂O₃-12SiO₂ is 3.7 times higher than that of Y-Al₂O₃-0SiO₂, and the selectivity of the target products simultaneously improved by 7 percentage point. This work should bring some inspiration to the design and application of zeolite-based catalysts.