Synthesis and modification of beta zeolite for use in toluene disproportionation reaction

Abstract

In this paper zeolite Beta was synthesized and characterized by XRD, ATG, ATD, XRF and SEM. Subsequently various modifications were made using a surface passivation process in liquid phase with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), using two loads of TEOS and three passivation cycles, in order to obtain six catalysts. These materials were characterized by NH3-TPD and tested in tolune disproportionation reaction, under different conditions of pressure and temperature. As modification cycles were increased for each catalyst, there was a change in the acidity of the solids, mainly due to deposition of an inert layer of silica on the external surface. These results were confirmed with the improvement in para-selectivity and decreasing in conversion. Despite zeolite Beta is a large pore zeolite, an improvement of the para-selectivity was obtained, achieving almost stable values for the entire range of temperature and pressure conditions.