Gallium/H-ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts have been extensively researched for the aromatization of liquified petroleum gas (LPG). In 1989 BP and UOP collaborated to commission a pilot plant in Grangemouth, Scotland, for the aromatization of propane and butane. This plant, based on a technology called the Cyclar process, used continuous catalyst regeneration (CCR) and a gallium impregnated ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst to achieve yields of ca. 65% aromatics, mainly benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) [Guisnet and Gnep, 1992]. As a result of the Fischer-Tropsch process used by SASOL Ltd., South Africa is in an internationally unique position, in that it has a surplus of long chain linear alkenes with carbon numbers in the range C6-C8 . There could be large economic incentives to convert these alkenes into more valuable products, like alcohols or aromatics. Thus the purpose of this project was to determine if gallium/H-ZSM-5 catalysts, similar to those used in the Cyclar process, would be suitable for the aromatization of long chain alkenes. Three methods were investigated for the introduction of gallium into ZSM-5: (i) physical mixing with gallium oxide; (ii) impregnation by incipient wetness with gallium nitrate; (iii) ion-exchange with gallium nitrate. The catalysts were. tested with regard to their catalytic activity for the aromatization of 1-hexene and 1-octene.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/21518 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Nash, Robin John |
| Contributors | Dry, Mark |
| Publisher | University of Cape Town, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Centre for Catalysis Research |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Master Thesis, Masters, MSc |
| Format | application/pdf |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds