Aromatization of Ketones over Zeolite Catalysts
Summary
The aromatization reaction of 4-heptanone over ZSM-5 was studied. 450 °C was found to be the
optimum temperature for BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and (para-, meta-, ortho-) xylene)
formation. With 29 %c yield to BTEX, a Si/Al of 25 was determined to be the optimal ratio. A significant
percentage of the carbon did however end up in short chain olefins and C5+ aliphatics. Gallium was
incorporated in the zeolite framework as a dehydrogenating specie in 1.5, 3 and 4.5 wt.%. Ammonia
desorption and pyridine adsorption showed 3 wt.% of Ga having the highest acid site density, and
hydrogen reduction showed 3 wt.% Ga having the highest density of active dehydrogenating species.
Usage of this catalyst resulted in a BTEX yield of 66 %c.