Catalyst and isomerisation process
View Patent ↗An alkylaromatics isomerisation catalyst, which catalyst comprises at least 50 wt % of an inorganic binder; at least 0.01 wt % of a Group VIII metal and 1-9 wt % ZSM-12 zeolite wherein the silica to alumina molar ratio (SAR) of the ZSM-12 zeolite is in the range of from 60 to 200, and a process for the isomerisation of alkylaromatics to provide a reaction mixture, said process comprising contacting a hydrocarbon stream comprising alkylaromatics with such catalyst.
1. An ethylbenzene conversion catalyst, which catalyst comprises:
more than 90 wt % of a wide pore alumina binder having a pore volume of at least 0.6 cc/g up to 2 cc/g and an average pore volume greater than 80 Å;
platinum metal in an amount in the range of from 0.1 to 0.6 wt % based on the total weight of said catalyst;
from 1 to 9 wt % ZSM-12 zeolite having a silica to alumina molar ratio (SAR) in the range of from 60 to 200; and
an absence of lead.
2. A catalyst as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is an extrudate.
3. A catalyst as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the pore volume of the inorganic binder is at least 1.2 cc/g.
4. A catalyst as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the bulk density of the inorganic binder is less than 0.25 g/cc.
5. A catalyst as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the SAR of the ZSM-12 zeolite is in the range of from 70 to 150.
6. A catalyst as claimed in claim 5 , which catalyst comprises 1-7 wt % ZSM-12 zeolite.
7. A catalyst as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the ZSM-12 zeolite has an average crystal size in the range of 30 to 70 nm.
8. A catalyst as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the ZSM-12 zeolite has a crystallinity greater than 94%.
9. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst, comprising:
more than 80 wt % of a wide pore alumina binder having a pore volume of at least 0.6 cc/g up to 2 cc/g and an average pore volume greater than 80 Å;
platinum in an amount in the range of from 0.1 to 0.6 wt %;
from 1 to 9 wt %, based on the total weight of said catalyst, zeolite ZSM-12 having a silica-to-alumina molar ratio (SAR) in the range of from 60 to 200;
an absence of lead; and
an absence of chlorine.
10. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , wherein said wide pore alumina binder has a nitrogen pore volume of at least 1.2 cc/g and up to 2 cc/g.
11. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , wherein the crystal morphology of said zeolite ZSM-12 is such that it has an average crystal size in the range of from 30 to 70 nm, a surface area of more than 250 m 2 /g measured by the nitrogen adsorption method, and a crystallinity of greater than 94%.
12. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , wherein said wide pore alumina binder has an average pore diameter greater than 90 Å.
13. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , wherein said zeolite ZSM-12 has a SAR in the range of from 70 to 150.
14. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , wherein said wide pore alumina binder is present in said catalyst in an amount of more than 90 wt %, based on the weight of said catalyst.
15. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , wherein said zeolite ZSM-12 is present in said catalyst in an amount in the range of from 1 to 7 wt %.
16. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , said surface area of said zeolite ZSM-12 is of more than 280 m 2 /g.
17. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , wherein said zeolite ZSM-12 is present in said catalyst in an amount in the range of from 3 to 5 wt %, wherein said alumina is present in said catalyst in an amount of more than 95 wt %.
18. An alkylaromatics isomerization catalyst as recited in claim 9 , wherein said wide pore alumina binder has a bulk density less than 0.25 g/cc.
19. A catalyst as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the catalyst additionally comprises an absence of chlorine.