A Study of Platinum Catalysts Based on Ordered Al–МСМ-41 Aluminosilicate and Natural Halloysite Nanotubes in Xylene Isomerization

Abstract

Hierarchical composite materials based on ordered aluminosilicates of the Al–MCM-41 type and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with different Al–MCM-41/halloysite weight ratios have been synthesized and studied as components of supports of platinum catalysts for the isomerization of the C₈ aromatic fraction of reforming. At each synthesis stage, the materials have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH₃-TPD). Catalyst systems with an Al–MCM-41/HNT weight ratio of 90 : 10 wt % have shown the highest efficiency in xylene isomerization providing a higher conversion of ethylbenzene and m-xylene than the conversion provided by the HNT-based catalyst. It has been found that the synthesized catalysts exhibit a higher selectivity for the target product of the process—p-xylene—than the selectivity of a commercial counterpart in a temperature range of 360–440°C. The maximum p-xylene selectivity (70%) has been achieved in the presence of a Pt/Al–MCM-41/HNT(90 : 10)/Al₂O₃ catalyst at 360°C.