Comparison of the activities of binder-added and binder-free Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts in methane dehydroaromatization at 1073 K in periodic CH4-H2 switch operation mode

Three industry-supplied, well-shaped Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts, two binder-added and one binder-free, were tested for the first time in methane dehydroaromatization to benzene at 1073 K and 10000 mL/(gh) in periodic CH₄-H₂ switch operation mode, and their catalytic performances were compared with those of three self-prepared, binder-free powder Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts. XRD, ²⁷Al NMR, SEM, BET and NH₃-TPD characterizations of all the catalysts show that the zeolites in the two binder-added catalysts are comparable to those in the three binder-free powder catalysts in crystallinity, crystal size, micropore volume and Brønsted acidity. The test results, on the other hand, show that the catalytic performances of the two binder-added catalysts are worse than those of the four binder-free catalysts on both catalyst mass and zeolite mass bases. Then, TPO and BET measurements of all spent samples were conducted to get a deep insight into the negative effects of binder addition, and the results suggest that the binder additives functioned mainly to enhance the polyaromatization of formed aromatics to coke on their external surfaces and consequently lower the benzene formation activity and selectivity of the catalyst.