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The mechanism of isobutane cracking over amorphous and crystalline aluminosilicates

Journal Article · · Journal of Catalysis; (USA)

The acid catalyzed cracking of isobutane over a silica-alumina catalyst and several zeolites was studied. The activity of these catalysts, for whatever reason, increased in the order silica-alumina < H-ZSM-5 < H-Y < H-M, i.e., the same order found in a closely related study of neopentane. The higher the activity the lower was the temperature required to achieve a given conversion, the higher was the paraffin-to-olefin ratios, and the greater was the isomerization of iso- to normal hydrocarbons. It was demonstrated that with all these catalysts two primary reactions occurred resulting in the formation of CH{sub 4} and H{sub 2} and concomitantly the t-butyl and isopropyl cations. The latter either desorbed as the corresponding olefins or underwent secondary reactions. So long as the latter were relatively unimportant the C{sub 3} + C{sub 4} hydrocarbons formed nearly equaled the isobutane reacted. However, the sum of the CH{sub 4} and H{sub 2} produced was generally less than this values. Evidently hydrogen transfer is more important in the conversion of isobutane than of neopentane. This chemistry is discussed.

OSTI ID:
6573487
Journal Information:
Journal of Catalysis; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis; (USA) Vol. 112:2; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English