| Abstract: | The isomerization of 1-hexene on 70/80 mesh HY zeolite was studied at 200°C. The observed reaction products are formed via a variety of processes including double bond shift, cis–trans isomerization, skeletal rearrangement, cracking, hydrogen transfer, polymerization, cyclization, and coke formation. By applying the time-on-stream theory, the products have been classified as primary, secondary, or both, according to their OPE curves on product selectivity plots. 2-Ethyl-1-butene, which is present as an impurity in the feed, is found to react about 30 times faster than 1-hexene. Both 2-hexenes and 3 hexenes are formed primarily from 1-hexene, while 3 methyl 2 pentenes and 3-methyl-1-pentene formed from 2-ethyl-1-butene. The ratio of the initial rate of deprotonation to that of hydrogen shift in these reactions is ～15 and ～100, respectively. All products of skeletal rearrangement are observed to be secondary. Cracking products are produced mainly from precoke, which is also the source of hydrogen in the formation of paraffins. A detailed reaction network along with its associated mechanisms are presented and discussed. |
