As zeólitas têm recebido grande atenção acadêmica e industrial devido às suas características ácidas e estruturais. A estrutura da zeólita pode ser utilizada para conduzir uma reação catalítica na direção do produto desejado, evitando assim reações paralelas. Porém, essa mesma estrutura cria restrições difusivas com relação ao acesso aos sítios ativos no interior dos microporos. Neste trabalho foram estudados dois métodos de criação de mesoporos (térmico e básico) com o intuito de modificar a acessibilidade aos sítios catalíticos das zeólitas. A reação de hidroisomerização do n-heptano foi selecionada para avaliar as zeólitas após a criação de mesoporosidade. O tratamento térmico (via calcinação em temperaturas elevadas) foi utilizado para as zeólitas do tipo ZSM-5, Mordenita e Ferrierita, tendo sido observado um aumento pouco significativo na mesoporosidade. Este tratamento promoveu, porém, uma significativa desaluminização das amostras, acompanhada da formação de quantidades importantes de espécies de Al extra-rede (ALER), o que se refletiu num bloqueio parcial dos mesoporos gerados e dos microporos preexistentes, e na redução na densidade de sítios ácidos das amostras. A ampliação da escala do tratamento térmico (aumento da quantidade tratada de 2 g para 30 g) não se mostrou reprodutível, gerando menos mesoporos do que o observado no preparo em pequena escala. O tratamento básico (via dessilicação por meio de NaOH), ao contrário do anterior, promoveu a formação de mesoporos gerando menos quantidade de ALER e se mostrou mais reprodutível quando da ampliação da escala. O desempenho dos catalisadores Pt/Al2O3+zeólita na reação de hidroisomerização do n-heptano foi influenciado pela densidade de sítios ácidos fortes e pela estrutura porosa da zeólita. Com relação ao efeito dos tratamentos térmico e básico sobre o desempenho dos catalisadores à base de ZSM-5, os resultados mostraram que o comportamento do catalisador submetido ao tratamento básico (Pt/Al2O3+BZSM-5/85-2) foi similar ao do tratado termicamente (Pt/Al2O3+TZSM-5/1000-2) com relação à distribuição de produtos na reação de hidroisomerização do n-heptano, particularmente com relação aos produtos leves e aos isômeros monorramificados. No entanto, a presença mais significativa de mesoporos na zeólita após tratamento básico (BZSM-5/85-2), se refletiu num leve favorecimento à formação dos isômeros birramificados / Zeolites have received great academic and industrial attention due to their acidic and structural characteristics. The structure of the zeolite can be used to conduct a catalytic reaction selectively to the desired product, thus avoiding undesirable side reactions. However, this structure could create diffusive restrictions regarding the access to the active sites inside the micropores. In this work two methods of mesopores generation (thermal and basic) were studied in order to modify the accessibility of the catalytic sites of the zeolites. The reaction of hydroisomerization of n-heptane was selected to evaluate the modified zeolites. The thermal treatment was employed for ZSM-5, mordenite and ferrierite zeolites and a negligible increase in mesoporosity has been observed. However, this treatment produced a significant dealumination of the samples along with the reduction of the acid sites density and the formation of significant quantities of extraframework Al species (EFAL), which resulted in a partial blockage of the pre-existent micropores and of the mesopores generated. Furthermore, the scale-up of the thermal treatment (increasing the amount of treated sample from 2 g to 30 g) was not reproducible, producing less mesopores than that was observed in the small-scale preparation. The basic treatment with NaOH solution was also tested for ZSM-5 zeolite. It increased significantly the mesoporosity of the zeolite and formed less amount of extra-framework aluminum. Moreover, it was more reproducible when larger amounts of sample were treated. The performance of Pt/Al2O3 + zeolite catalysts in hydroisomerization/hydrocracking of n-heptane was influenced by both the strong acid sites density and the pore structure of the zeolite. As to the effect of the thermal and basic treatments on the performance of the ZSM-5-based catalysts, the results showed that the behavior of that the basically treated samples was similar to those of heat-treated was similar regarding the product distribution particularly with respect to light hydrocarbons and monobranched C7 isomers. However, the larger mesoporosity of sample basically treated slightly favored the formation polybranched isomers

As zeólitas têm recebido grande atenção acadêmica e industrial devido às suas características ácidas e estruturais. A estrutura da zeólita pode ser utilizada para conduzir uma reação catalítica na direção do produto desejado, evitando assim reações paralelas. Porém, essa mesma estrutura cria restrições difusivas com relação ao acesso aos sítios ativos no interior dos microporos. Neste trabalho foram estudados dois métodos de criação de mesoporos (térmico e básico) com o intuito de modificar a acessibilidade aos sítios catalíticos das zeólitas. A reação de hidroisomerização do n-heptano foi selecionada para avaliar as zeólitas após a criação de mesoporosidade. O tratamento térmico (via calcinação em temperaturas elevadas) foi utilizado para as zeólitas do tipo ZSM-5, Mordenita e Ferrierita, tendo sido observado um aumento pouco significativo na mesoporosidade. Este tratamento promoveu, porém, uma significativa desaluminização das amostras, acompanhada da formação de quantidades importantes de espécies de Al extra-rede (ALER), o que se refletiu num bloqueio parcial dos mesoporos gerados e dos microporos preexistentes, e na redução na densidade de sítios ácidos das amostras. A ampliação da escala do tratamento térmico (aumento da quantidade tratada de 2 g para 30 g) não se mostrou reprodutível, gerando menos mesoporos do que o observado no preparo em pequena escala. O tratamento básico (via dessilicação por meio de NaOH), ao contrário do anterior, promoveu a formação de mesoporos gerando menos quantidade de ALER e se mostrou mais reprodutível quando da ampliação da escala. O desempenho dos catalisadores Pt/Al2O3+zeólita na reação de hidroisomerização do n-heptano foi influenciado pela densidade de sítios ácidos fortes e pela estrutura porosa da zeólita. Com relação ao efeito dos tratamentos térmico e básico sobre o desempenho dos catalisadores à base de ZSM-5, os resultados mostraram que o comportamento do catalisador submetido ao tratamento básico (Pt/Al2O3+BZSM-5/85-2) foi similar ao do tratado termicamente (Pt/Al2O3+TZSM-5/1000-2) com relação à distribuição de produtos na reação de hidroisomerização do n-heptano, particularmente com relação aos produtos leves e aos isômeros monorramificados. No entanto, a presença mais significativa de mesoporos na zeólita após tratamento básico (BZSM-5/85-2), se refletiu num leve favorecimento à formação dos isômeros birramificados / Zeolites have received great academic and industrial attention due to their acidic and structural characteristics. The structure of the zeolite can be used to conduct a catalytic reaction selectively to the desired product, thus avoiding undesirable side reactions. However, this structure could create diffusive restrictions regarding the access to the active sites inside the micropores. In this work two methods of mesopores generation (thermal and basic) were studied in order to modify the accessibility of the catalytic sites of the zeolites. The reaction of hydroisomerization of n-heptane was selected to evaluate the modified zeolites. The thermal treatment was employed for ZSM-5, mordenite and ferrierite zeolites and a negligible increase in mesoporosity has been observed. However, this treatment produced a significant dealumination of the samples along with the reduction of the acid sites density and the formation of significant quantities of extraframework Al species (EFAL), which resulted in a partial blockage of the pre-existent micropores and of the mesopores generated. Furthermore, the scale-up of the thermal treatment (increasing the amount of treated sample from 2 g to 30 g) was not reproducible, producing less mesopores than that was observed in the small-scale preparation. The basic treatment with NaOH solution was also tested for ZSM-5 zeolite. It increased significantly the mesoporosity of the zeolite and formed less amount of extra-framework aluminum. Moreover, it was more reproducible when larger amounts of sample were treated. The performance of Pt/Al2O3 + zeolite catalysts in hydroisomerization/hydrocracking of n-heptane was influenced by both the strong acid sites density and the pore structure of the zeolite. As to the effect of the thermal and basic treatments on the performance of the ZSM-5-based catalysts, the results showed that the behavior of that the basically treated samples was similar to those of heat-treated was similar regarding the product distribution particularly with respect to light hydrocarbons and monobranched C7 isomers. However, the larger mesoporosity of sample basically treated slightly favored the formation polybranched isomers

Zeolite catalysis plays an important role in many industrial applications due to their unique properties and has become widely used in the area of oil refining. Of particular interest is Zeolite Y, which can be hydrothermally treated into its ultrastable form, USY. USY offers a superior practicality, especially when dealuminated and metal-loaded. The importance of alkanes hydroisomerization arises from the continuingly stricter regulations imposed on the utilization of gasoline as an automotive fuel. The requirements to reduce the aromatics content in gasoline present a need to find an alternative way to maintain its research octane number (RON). An alternative to gasoline's high-octane aromatic content is to increase the RON for the paraffinic content of gasoline, which can be accomplished through hydroisomerization. Commercially, bifunctional metal-loaded zeolites are used to hydroisomerize the light naphtha stream produced at overheads of atmospheric distillation towers. However, no such process exists for the low-value heavy naphtha cut. This targeted process would, if successful, greatly improve refiner's profitability.In this work, bifunctional USY zeolite catalysts are studied in the hydroisomerization of a normal alkane (nC7, RON = 0). This nC7, found in heavy naphtha, has been used as the 'model' compound. The impact of different reaction conditions and catalyst properties on catalyst activity and stability, in addition to the catalyst selectivity to high octane isomers is one step towards determining optimum conditions and preferential catalyst formulations that favour octane maximization. Six platinum-loaded USY zeolite catalysts, four in-house and two commercial, were tested in an atmospheric glass fixed-bed reactor and a stainless steel reactor purpose-built during the course of this thesis. Reaction temperatures ranged from 170 to 250oC at pressures between 1 and 15 bar. The hydrogen to hydrocarbon molar ratio was fixed at 9, with feed space time ranging from 35.14 to 140.6 kg.s/mol. In-house catalysts were hydrothermally treated at different severities, while commercial ones were originally dealuminated through acid-leaching treatments.Results have shown commercial catalyst CBV-712 gave the best performance and highest octane values for product isomers (>30). In addition, there was no coke generation. The next best catalyst was the most severely steamed in-house catalyst (USY-D) that has shown a remarkable performance at high pressures, almost eclipsing the performance of CBV-712, yet produced higher levels of coke. Other USY catalysts tested were less robust during reactions, probably due to imbalance in their acidic to metallic functions, or diffusion limitations arising from their pore structures. The best catalysts were, nonetheless, highly sensitive to sulfur presence in the feed, which severely impacted their activity, especially their metallic functions, and thus require sulfur-free feeds in order to demonstrate their full capacities. Simple kinetic modelling of experimental data was performed using the initial rates method and estimation of kinetic parameters, whose values were in good agreement with previous literature.

No processo de hidrocraqueamento para a produção de lubrificantes ocorre a formação de uma corrente rica em compostos parafínicos que possuem alto ponto de fluidez, apesar dos mesmos apresentarem excelentes desempenhos em termos de estabilidade térmica e oxidativa. A transformação das n-parafinas obtidas nestas correntes em isoparafinas e compostos naftênicos, os quais possuem menores pontos de fluidez, se faz necessária a fim de enquadrar esta propriedade. Uma das rotas catalíticas mais importantes neste sentido é a hidroisodesparafinação ou HIDW (hydroisodewaxing) que consiste na conversão de n-parafinas nas respectivas isoparafinas, onde são empregados catalisadores bifuncionais zeolíticos com a ocorrência de seletividade de forma. No caso dos catalisadores industriais, se faz necessária a dispersão da fase metálica e da zeólita em uma matriz amorfa para viabilizar sua conformação e melhorar a resistência mecânica do catalisador final. Neste cenário, o objetivo deste trabalho foi preparar e analisar o desempenho de uma série de catalisadores à base de zeólita beta inseridos numa matriz de alumina, variando-se o teor de zeólita e o tipo de precursor de Pt utilizado. Os catalisadores foram avaliados na reação de hidroisomerização de um composto modelo, no caso, n-hexadecano. Os testes realizados para avaliação da atividade e seletividade foram conduzidos em um reator de fluxo contínuo em alta pressão e fase líquida em unidade de laboratório. Os catalisadores foram testados em condições operacionais que proporcionassem uma ampla faixa de conversões do n-C16. Verificou-se que as atividades dos catalisadores foram proporcionais ao teor de zeólita no catalisador, indicando que a função ácida, neste catalisador bifuncional, é a etapa limitante do processo. Quanto à natureza do precursor de Pt, o catalisador preparado com ácido cloroplatínico foi sensivelmente mais ativo que os preparados com o complexo aminplatina. No entanto, para todos os catalisadores, a distribuição de produtos em função da conversão foi similar, independente do teor de zeólita e da natureza do precursor de platina. Foi também determinado o ponto de fluidez de uma série de produtos de reação, obtendo-se valores entre 17,5 C (n-hexadecano) e - 41 C (produto com 98% de conversão). Obteve-se uma boa correlação entre o ponto de fluidez e a composição dos produtos, considerando-se a presença de isômeros mono, di e tri-substituídos e compostos de menor peso molecular que C16 / The residual oil of hydrocracking process is a useful stream for the production of lubricants. This product is rich in paraffinic compounds which have a high pour point despite having the excellent performances in terms of thermal and oxidation stability. The conversion of the heavy n-paraffins or long alkyl chains into isoparaffins and naphthenic compounds, which have lower pour points, is necessary in order to lower the pour point to adequate values for lubricants formulation. One of the most important catalytic routes in this direction is hydroisodewaxing or HIDW, which consists in the conversion of n-paraffins in the respective isoparaffins with minimum formation of cracked products. For this objective, zeolitic bifunctional catalysts are employed, using zeolites presenting shape selectivity properties in order to avoid n-paraffin cracking. In the case of industrial catalysts, it is necessary to disperse the metallic phase and the zeolite in an amorphous matrix for obtaining adequate shape and mechanical strength. In this work, we studied the performance of a series of catalysts prepared with beta zeolite embedded in a alumina based matrix and varying the content of zeolite and the type of platinum precursor. The catalyst performance was evaluated in the hydroisomerization of a model compound, in this case, n-hexadecane, using a continuous flow reactor at high pressure and liquid phase in laboratory unit. Operating conditions were selected in order to provide a broad range of n-C16 conversions. Catalyst activities were proportional to the zeolite content in the support indicating that the acid function is the limiting one in these catalysts. Moreover,a catalyst prepared with chloroplatinic acid was more active than the one prepared with amine-platinum complex, for the same zeolite content. In despite of the different conversions, all catalysts presented similar isomerized and cracked product distributions as function of the overall n-C16 conversion. Pour points of a series of reaction products were measured and values between 17.5 C (n-hexadecane) and -41 C (98 % conversion) were obtained. A good correlation with pour point and product composition was obtained, taking in account the concentrations of mono, di and tri-branched isoparaffins and cracked products

No processo de hidrocraqueamento para a produção de lubrificantes ocorre a formação de uma corrente rica em compostos parafínicos que possuem alto ponto de fluidez, apesar dos mesmos apresentarem excelentes desempenhos em termos de estabilidade térmica e oxidativa. A transformação das n-parafinas obtidas nestas correntes em isoparafinas e compostos naftênicos, os quais possuem menores pontos de fluidez, se faz necessária a fim de enquadrar esta propriedade. Uma das rotas catalíticas mais importantes neste sentido é a hidroisodesparafinação ou HIDW (hydroisodewaxing) que consiste na conversão de n-parafinas nas respectivas isoparafinas, onde são empregados catalisadores bifuncionais zeolíticos com a ocorrência de seletividade de forma. No caso dos catalisadores industriais, se faz necessária a dispersão da fase metálica e da zeólita em uma matriz amorfa para viabilizar sua conformação e melhorar a resistência mecânica do catalisador final. Neste cenário, o objetivo deste trabalho foi preparar e analisar o desempenho de uma série de catalisadores à base de zeólita beta inseridos numa matriz de alumina, variando-se o teor de zeólita e o tipo de precursor de Pt utilizado. Os catalisadores foram avaliados na reação de hidroisomerização de um composto modelo, no caso, n-hexadecano. Os testes realizados para avaliação da atividade e seletividade foram conduzidos em um reator de fluxo contínuo em alta pressão e fase líquida em unidade de laboratório. Os catalisadores foram testados em condições operacionais que proporcionassem uma ampla faixa de conversões do n-C16. Verificou-se que as atividades dos catalisadores foram proporcionais ao teor de zeólita no catalisador, indicando que a função ácida, neste catalisador bifuncional, é a etapa limitante do processo. Quanto à natureza do precursor de Pt, o catalisador preparado com ácido cloroplatínico foi sensivelmente mais ativo que os preparados com o complexo aminplatina. No entanto, para todos os catalisadores, a distribuição de produtos em função da conversão foi similar, independente do teor de zeólita e da natureza do precursor de platina. Foi também determinado o ponto de fluidez de uma série de produtos de reação, obtendo-se valores entre 17,5 C (n-hexadecano) e - 41 C (produto com 98% de conversão). Obteve-se uma boa correlação entre o ponto de fluidez e a composição dos produtos, considerando-se a presença de isômeros mono, di e tri-substituídos e compostos de menor peso molecular que C16 / The residual oil of hydrocracking process is a useful stream for the production of lubricants. This product is rich in paraffinic compounds which have a high pour point despite having the excellent performances in terms of thermal and oxidation stability. The conversion of the heavy n-paraffins or long alkyl chains into isoparaffins and naphthenic compounds, which have lower pour points, is necessary in order to lower the pour point to adequate values for lubricants formulation. One of the most important catalytic routes in this direction is hydroisodewaxing or HIDW, which consists in the conversion of n-paraffins in the respective isoparaffins with minimum formation of cracked products. For this objective, zeolitic bifunctional catalysts are employed, using zeolites presenting shape selectivity properties in order to avoid n-paraffin cracking. In the case of industrial catalysts, it is necessary to disperse the metallic phase and the zeolite in an amorphous matrix for obtaining adequate shape and mechanical strength. In this work, we studied the performance of a series of catalysts prepared with beta zeolite embedded in a alumina based matrix and varying the content of zeolite and the type of platinum precursor. The catalyst performance was evaluated in the hydroisomerization of a model compound, in this case, n-hexadecane, using a continuous flow reactor at high pressure and liquid phase in laboratory unit. Operating conditions were selected in order to provide a broad range of n-C16 conversions. Catalyst activities were proportional to the zeolite content in the support indicating that the acid function is the limiting one in these catalysts. Moreover,a catalyst prepared with chloroplatinic acid was more active than the one prepared with amine-platinum complex, for the same zeolite content. In despite of the different conversions, all catalysts presented similar isomerized and cracked product distributions as function of the overall n-C16 conversion. Pour points of a series of reaction products were measured and values between 17.5 C (n-hexadecane) and -41 C (98 % conversion) were obtained. A good correlation with pour point and product composition was obtained, taking in account the concentrations of mono, di and tri-branched isoparaffins and cracked products

Un des principaux défis lors de l'élaboration des catalyseurs adéquats pour le procédé de déparaffinage catalytique (hydroisomérisation) est de maximiser le rendement en isomères et l'activité du catalyseur, tout en maintenant une faible sélectivité en produits de craquage. En effet, des catalyseurs avec sélectivité de forme à base de zéolithes à taille de pore intermédiaire, par exemple Pt/ZSM-22, sont sélectives en isomères, tandis que les zéolithes à large pore sont plus actifs, mais moins sélectif. L'objectif principal de cette thèse était, alors, d’étudier et de développer un catalyseur à la fois actif et sélectif en isomères. Deux études parallèles ont été realisées: la première basée sur l'impact de la proximité entre les sites actifs sur la réaction (Part I), et la seconde, portant sur le développement d'un catalyseur d'hydroisomérisation de haute performance en utilisant des nanocristaux de zéolithe BEA comme support acide (Part II). La participation de l’épandage d’hydrogène (Hsp) sur le mécanisme de la réaction d'hydroisomérisation a été démontrée. En effet, lorsque les sites actifs sont proches, les espèces Hsp diffusent au voisinage des sites acides provocant l'hydrogénation directe des ions carbénium. Un mécanisme de réaction a, alors, été proposé utilisant ce phénomène comme une alternative au mécanisme classique proposé par Weisz, où la réaction d'hydrogénation a lieu uniquement sur les sites métalliques. Ce phénomène justifie l'activité et la sélectivité plus élevées observées sur les catalyseurs, où les sites actifs sont proches. Sur la deuxième partie de ce manuscrit, des nanocristaux de zéolithe BEA ont été utilisés pour développer un catalyseur d’hy / One of the main challenges when developing adequate catalysts for the catalytic dewaxing process (hydroisomerization) is to maximize the isomerization products yield and the catalyst activity, while maintaining a low selectivity towards light cracking products. Indeed, shape selective catalysts based on medium pore zeolites, e.g. Pt/ZSM-22, were proven to produce high yields of isomerization products, whereas larger pore zeolites were more active but less selective. The main objective of this thesis was, then, to study and develop a catalyst with both high activity and selectivity towards the production of isomerization products. For that two parallel studies were made: the first based on the impact of the proximity between the active sites on the reaction (Part I); and the second, focused on the development of a high performance hydroisomerization catalyst using BEA zeolite nanocrystals as an acid support (Part II). The participation of the spilt-over hydrogen (Hsp) species on the hydroisomerization reaction mechanism played a major role on the study performed on the first part of this manuscript. Indeed, when the active sites were near enough the Hsp species were able to diffuse into the vicinity of the acid sites promoting the direct hydrogenation of the carbenium ions. Due to this fact, a reaction mechanism was proposed using this reaction as an alternative to the classical mechanism proposed by Weisz, where the hydrogenation reaction takes place on the metallic sites. This phenomenon justified the higher activity and selectivity observed on the catalysts where the active sites were sideby side. On the second part of this manuscript nanocrystals of BEA zeolite were

Les catalyseurs d’hydrocraquage et d’hydroisomérization sont bifonctionnels, avec une fonction hydro-déshydrogénante et une fonction acide, une zéolithe protonée, pour isomériser et craquer les alcènes. Par dynamique moléculaire ab initio avancée, et avec prise en compte explicite des effets thermiques (300 – 500 K), nous avons étudié les mécanismes d’isomérisation et de craquage d’alcènes C7 dans la zéolithe chabazite dans le but d’obtenir des constantes de vitesse fiables et d’interpréter la distribution des produits.Par la méthode blue moon, nous avons établi les premiers profils d’énergie libre d’isomérisations d’alcènes C7, avec des carbocations intermédiaires (et des états de transition cyclopropanes protonés, PCP), reliant des isomères di- à tri- et mono- à di-branchés (Sections III et IV). Nos simulations démontrent que les effets dynamiques et l’échantillonnage correct des rotamères jouent un rôle crucial sur la stabilité des intermédiaires et des états de transition. Ces effets ne pouvaient pas être décrits par les précédentes études de DFT statiques. Les barrières bien plus basses pour l’isomérisation de type A sont ainsi retrouvées, et expliquées par un état de transition mou, alors que l’état de transition de l’isomérisation de type B est contraint, à cause de la formation d’un edge PCP. L’étude des réactions de craquage avec les mêmes méthodes (Section V) éclaircit le rôle des cations secondaires. Pour la première fois, nous identifions les états de transitions des β-scissions. Nous déduisons de cette analyse des constantes de vitesse ab initio qui pourront être utilisées dans un modèle cinétique pour prédire l’activité et la sélectivité du catalyseur. / Hydrocracking and hydroisomerization catalysts are bifunctional, with a hydro-dehydrogenation function and an acidic function, typically an acid zeolite, to isomerize and crack alkenes. With advanced ab initio molecular dynamics approach, and explicit simulation of the effects of temperature (300 – 500 K), we investigate the mechanisms of isomerization and cracking reactions of C7 alkenes within the chabazite zeolite in order to provide reliable rate constants and explain the observed products distribution. By blue moon sampling, we established for the first time, the free energy profiles for the isomerization of C7 alkenes in zeolites, with carbenium ions as intermediates (and protonated cyclopropane (PCP) as transition states), connecting di- to tri-branched, and mono- to di-branched alkene isomers (Sections III and IV). We demonstrate that the dynamic effects with the correct sampling of rotational conformers play an important role to quantify the stability of the key intermediates and transition states. These effects could not be captured by previous static DFT simulations. The much lower barriers for type A isomerization mechanisms are thus recovered, and assigned to a loose transition state, while the transition state of type B isomerization is tighter, due to the formation of an edge PCP. The study of cracking reactions (Section V) with the same methods, unravel the role of secondary cations. For the first time, we identify the structures of transition states involved in the β-scission mechanisms. From this analysis, we deduce the ab initio- rate constants that could be used in future kinetic modeling to predict activity and selectivity of the catalyst.

Deux zéolithes nanocristaux de type *BEA et CP814E commerciales avec de différentes propriétés texturales, et une zéolithe microcristaux de type *BEA qui a été synthétisée durant cette thèse, ont été modifiées par une desilication en utilisant de différents traitements alcalins. Toutes les zéolithes parentes et certaines désilicées ont été sélectionnée pour le craquage du n-hexane, où aucune amélioration significative de la conversion n'a été observée après la désilication. Toutes les zéolithes parentes et quelques désilicées sélectionnées ont été transformés en leur forme bifonctionnelle par imprégnation du platine pour d'étudier l'impact de la désilication dans l'hydroisomérization de n-C10. On a constaté que l'amélioration des propriétés texturales par la désilication n'était pas toujours la cause d'une augmentation ou d'une diminution de l'activité et de la sélectivité du catalyseur, mais plutôt de la localisation des particules de Pt et leur distance prédite des sites acides. Cependant, la présence des mésopores inter- et intracristallins, en plus de la distance de Pt-H+, sont des importants caractéristiques qui affectent l'activité et la sélectivité. Nous avons également étudié l'impact de la longueur de chaîne dans l'hydroisomérization de n-C12 et de n-C14. Un phénomène spécial dans le cas de n-C12 est apparu, où le rendement d'isomérisation semblait inférieur à celui obtenu sur n-C10 et n-C14, ce qui suggère que cela résulte de l'effet de confinement. La série microcristaux a montré une amélioration de l'activité dans la transformation n-C14, mais une diminution de la sélectivité des isomères à cause des limites de diffusion potentielles. / Two commercial nanocrystal *BEA zeolites with different textural properties and a microcrystal synthesized *BEA zeolite, were desilicated using different alkaline treatment; classical in presence of Noah alone, or incorporated with a pore directing agent. All parent zeolites and some selected desilicated samples were chosen for catalytic cracking of n-hexane, where no significant improvement of n-hexane conversion was observed after desilication. To investigate the impact of desilication on the hyrdoisomerization of n-C10, all parent and the some selected desilicated zeolites were transformed into their bifunctional form by platinum loading. The improvement of the textural properties by desilication using the different pore directing agents, was not always the cause behind an increase or decrease in the activity and selectivity of the catalyst, but rather was more the location of the Pt particles and their predicted distance from the acidic sites. However, the synergetic effect of both the textural and bifunctional characteristics was positive. Tests on hydroisomerization of n-C12 and n-C14 to investigate the impact of chain length were done. In the nanocrystal series, a special phenomenon on n-C12 appeared where the isomerization yield seemed to be less than that obtained on n-C10 and n-C14, suggesting that this would be due the confinement effect, which was shown to be more effective in case of n-C12. The microcrystal series showed an improvement of the activity over all the catalysts in case of n-C14 transformation, but a decrease in isomers selectivity as observed due to probable diffusional limitations within the channels of these series catalysts.

La méthode à privilégier pour améliorer dans les zéolithes la diffusion des réactifs, des intermédiaires réactionnels et des produits est de raccourcir la longueur du chemin diffusionnel, c'est-à-dire de diminuer la taille des cristaux. La croissance des cristallites est fonction de la composition du gel de synthèse, du temps de cristallisation, de la température, etc. La maîtrise de cette croissance permet d'obtenir un large éventail de taille pouvant aller de plusieurs micromètres à seulement quelques dizaines de nanomètres. Dorénavant, il est possible de limiter le chemin diffusionnel à seulement 3 mailles élémentaires en inhibant lors de la synthèse hydrothermale la croissance des cristaux dans une direction privilégiée. Pour cela l'utilisation d'agent structurant organique très particulier de type géminé s'avère indispensable et donne dans le cas de la zéolithe de type *BEA un matériau hiérarchisé avec des cristaux zéolithiques de 4 nm d'épaisseur séparés par des mésopores structurés et réguliers. La morphologie de ce matériau ressemble à une éponge de mer.<br>Deux réactions modèles, hydroisomérisation du n-héxadécane et transformation de l'éthanol en hydrocarbures, démontrent que la diffusion des réactifs et des produits sont optimisées dans les nanoéponges de bêta. La stabilité et la sélectivité du catalyseur se trouvent alors améliorées au détriment, étonnamment, de l'activité. Cela vient du fait que l'extrême diminution de l'épaisseur des cristallites conduit à une augmentation du nombre d'aluminium en bouche de pores qui sont, bien que très accessibles, incapables de catalyser les réactions d'isomérisation et de craquage. Les aluminium proche de la surface externe, contrairement à ceux situés au cœur du cristal ne bénéficient pas des effets longues distances ce qui les rend moins forts. / The method to ameliorate the diffusion of reactants, reaction intermediates, and products inside the zeolite is by shortening the diffusion path length, i.e., crystals size. The growth of the crystals is a function of gel composition synthesis, crystallization time, temperature, etc. The mastering of this growth allows to obtain a wide range of the size which ranges from several micrometers to a few tens of nanometers. It is possible now to limit the diffusion path to only three unit cells by inhibiting the crystals' growth in one direction during the hydrothermal synthesis. For that, the use of a peculiar organic surfactant geminate is indispensable, it gives a hierarchical material with zeolitic crystals of 4 nm thickness separated by structured and regular mesopores in the case of *BEA type zeolite. The morphology of this material resembles a sea sponge.<br>Two reaction models, n-hexadecane hydroisomerization and ethanol transformation to hydrocarbons, demonstrate that the reactants and the products diffusion was optimized in the beta nanosponges. Surprisingly the catalyst stability and selectivity were improved instead of activity. In fact this is due to the extreme reducing of the zeolite crystals’ thickness that leads to increase the aluminum number in the pore mouth, which although very accessible, but incapable to catalyze the isomerization and cracking reactions. The aluminums near the external surface, in contrary to those in the crystal heart, do not benefit from the long distance effects, which makes them weaker.

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