1-Hexene catalytic cracking to propylene using shape selective molecular sieve sapo-34 zeolite

Abstract EN

-The catalytic cracking of 1-hexene was experimentally investigated over 100% pure SAPO-34 catalysts in order to explore the cracking reaction network and parametric characterization.

The prepared SAPO-34 zeolite catalyst was characterized by BET, SEM, XRD, and NH3-IR spectra techniques.

The critical focus was given to maximize the propylene selectivity and feed conversion.

The catalyst performance was observed in a microreactor, over the temperature range of 450–600oC at weight hourly space velocity 13.5 h-1.

Reaction pathway was quantified and rationalized in terms of β-scission, C-type carbenium ion mechanism.

It was observed that the shape selectivity of SAPO-34 small pore size was suitable for light olefins production and eliminates chances of bimolecular reactions.

Experimental data suggests that 100% SAPO-34, with a small pore diameter and weak external acid sites significantly promotes propylene yield and selectivity to 50.8 % and 86.5 %, respectively.

This yield and selectivity is the highest ever reported.

Both conversion and selectivity were strongly effected by time-on-stream due to catalyst deactivation.

The olefin's performance envelop of 1-hexene cracking reaction indicates that SAPO-34 can selectively produce propylene with higher total olefins at higher conversions.