Effect of Pt particle size on the hydroisomerization of n-dodecane over Pt/Ai-SBA-15 catalysts.

The hydroisomerization of n-dodecane was carried out over platinum-impregnated Al-SBA-15 as a bifunctional catalyst. A range of Pt/Al-SBA-15 catalysts with a Pt particle size of 1.7, 2.9 and 7.1 were prepared to examine the effect of the Pt particle size on the activity and selectivity for the hydroisomerization of n-dodecane. The catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, pyridine Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and NH3 temperature programmed desorption. The hydroisomerization of n-dodecane was performed in a batch-type reactor at 350 degrees C and 20 bar. The Pt(2.9)/Al-SBA-15 catalyst showed the highest selectivity to iso-dodecane due to its largest number of medium strength Brønsted acid sites and the optimum ratio of metallic/acid sites.