Hydrocracking of n-Hexadecane and Diesel Fuels over Bifunctional Catalysts based on High-Crystallinity Granulated Hierarchical ZSM-5 Zeolites

Abstract

This study investigates the chemical and phase compositions, acidic properties, and porous structure characteristics of an acidic support for a bifunctional catalyst. This catalyst was a high-crystallinity granulated hierarchical H-ZSM-5 molecular sieve promoted with 0.5 wt % Pt. The catalytic transformations of n-hexadecane and a diesel fuel were further investigated using this catalyst. The catalyst exhibited a higher activity in the hydrocracking of higher n-paraffins than a bifunctional catalyst that contained 20 wt % Al₂O₃ as a binder. Furthermore, at 220°C, 3 MPa, 2.0 h^–1, and H₂/feed = 800 m³/m³, a diesel fuel with a pour point of –68 °C was produced over the prepared catalyst with a yield of about 71–72 wt %.