Cumene Cracking on Modified Mesoporous Material Type MCM-41

Authors: AHMED BELHAKEM, ABDELKADER BENGUEDDACH

Abstract: The effect of ionic exchange degree of H(X)-AlMCM-41 materials, the method of its exchange and its grain form were investigated for mesoporous catalytic activity in the cumene cracking reaction. Benzene, propylene and xylene derivatives are the main products of this reaction. Olefins like butene and pentene appeared as the products of secondary reactions. No saturated hydrocarbons, which are typical products of secondary reactions obtained with HNaY zeolites, were formed, except for traces of butane. Generally the exchanged H(X)-AlMCM-41 materials by the substitution of Na^+ by NH_4^+ are more active than those exchanged directly with acid solution (substitution of Na^+ by H^+) even if both the methods used exhibit a comparable content of acid sites within catalysts at a low exchange degree. However, the first method of exchange exhibited significant acidity for mesoporous materials when the ionic exchange degree was increased up to 90%. It was probably due not only to the percentage of exchanged degree but also to the distribution of acid sites within the materials.

Keywords: MCM-41 mesoporous, grains forms, Cumene cracking

Full Text: PDF