Kinetic modeling of the ethylbenzene/xylene isomerization reaction over HZSM-5 zeolites revisited

In this article, a binderless dealuminated HZSM-5 zeolite (Si/Al = 41.4) was used as a catalyst for the isomerization of a mixture of ethylbenzene and xylene. The experimental results indicated that at low residence times the catalyst is effective to isomerize the ethylbenzene into xylenes. A comprehensive kinetic model considering chemisorption, surface chemical reactions, and diffusional processes was developed for this reaction. The intrinsic activation energy (71.99 kJ mol⁻¹) for the surface reaction of ethylbenzene into m-xylene was calculated for the first time, and the corresponding intrinsic activation energies for o-xylene to m-xylene and m-xylene to p-xylene surface reactions were calculated to be 59.45 and 50.68 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Lower apparent values have been reported in the literature, and we rationalize that they correspond to multistep processes and intrinsically include a negative activation energy pertaining to chemisorption. The results also revealed that the ethylbenzene diffusion within the zeolite channels was four orders of magnitude smaller than p-xylene.     

Disproportionation of ethylbenzene in the presence of C8 aromatics

The selective synthesis of p-diethylbenzene (p-DEB) by disproportionation of ethylbenzene (EB) in the presence of aromatics like m-and p-xylene isomers has been studied over a pore size regulated HZSM-5 catalyst. The industrial feed having different compositions of ethylbenzene and xylene isomers was used for the experimentation. Hence, they were expected to hinder the movement of reactant molecules both on the external surface and within the zeolite channels. It was observed that irrespective of the different feed compositions the concentration of the xylene isomers was intact in the product. There is no other byproducts formation like para-ethylmethyl benzene. The effects of varying the concentration of aromatic compounds in the feed on ethylbenzene conversion and product distribution over the parent and modified H-ZSM-5 catalyst have been discussed. Ethylbenzene disproportionation reaction follows the pseudo first order reaction with an activation energy of 8.6 kcal/mol.     

Catalytic Conversion of Biomass-Derived Polyols into Para-xylene over SiO2-Modified Zeolites

This work proved that biomass-based polyols (sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, glycerol and ethanediol) were able to be converted into high-value chemical (p-xylene) by catalytic cracking of polyols, alkylation of aromatics, and the isomerization of xylenes over the SiO₂-modified zeolites. Compared to the conventional HZSM-5 zeolite, the SiO₂-containing zeolites considerably increased the selectivity and yield of p-xylene due to the reduction of external surface acidity and the narrowing of pore entrance. The influences of the methanol additive, reaction temperature, and types of polyols on the selectivity and yield of p-xylene were investigated in detail. Catalytic cracking of polyols with methanol significantly enhanced the production of p-xylene by the alkylation of toluene with methanol. The highest p-xylene yield of 10.9 C-mol% with a p-xylene/xylenes ratio of 91.1% was obtained over the 15wt%SiO₂/HZSM-5 catalyst. The reaction pathway for the formation of p-xylene was addressed according to the study of the key reactions and the characterization of catalysts.     

Breathing-Assisted Selective Adsorption of C8 Alkyl Aromatics in Zn-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks

The breathing phenomenon in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has revealed supramolecular host-guest interactions that could be beneficial for chemical separation in numerous industrial applications. The cost-effective purification of C₈ alkyl aromatics such as o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, and ethylbenzene remains challenging owing to their similar molecular structures, boiling points, kinetic diameters, polarities, etc. Herein, we report two Zn-based pillar-bilayered MOFs, denoted [Zn₂(aip)₂(pillar)] (aip=5-aminoisophthalic acid; pillar: bpy=4,4’-bipyridine or bpe=1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane) that exhibit a breathing effect depending on the adsorbed guest molecules. Guest-dependent sorption studies in organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, methanol, benzene, and water vapor display reversible structural flexibility through the breathing effect in both framework compounds. The experiments conducted on C₈-alkyl aromatics resulting in both MOF compounds can access these isomers in the shrunken pores, and thereby expand the pore size by framework breathing. In C₈ binary mixtures, these Zn-MOFs exhibit selective sorption properties based on the different interactions between guest C₈ aromatics and the framework structure.     

m-Xylene Isomerization in SAPO-11/HZSM-5 Mixed Catalyst

The catalytic isomerization of m-xylene was studied over a solid acid silicoaluminophosphate type SAPO-11, mixed to HZSM-5 zeolite. The reaction was processed varying the temperature and weight hourly space velocity, using a fixed bed continuous flow reactor. The m-xylene suffers isomerization to p-xylene and o-xylene by molecular displacement of methyl groups. The mixed catalyst was selective to p-xylene at 623 K and 2.5 h⁻¹ with a maximum p/o ratio of 2.05. The ethylbenzene formation was not observed in the products. In this process an apparent activation energy of the order of 13.9 kJ mol⁻¹ was obtained. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hydrogenolysis of hydrocarbons over supported catalysts derived from metal carbonyl clusters

A comparison between the activities of silica-supported ruthenium, rhodium and platinum catalysts prepared from metal cluster compounds and their conventional analogues towards the activation of saturated hydrocarbons has been made. Ruthenium cluster-derived catalysts display greatly enhanced activity for the complete hydrogenolysis of straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbons to methane and provide a temperature advantage of 150°C relative to conventionally prepared ruthenium catalysts where only moderate hydrocarbon conversions are noted. The increased activity superficially correlates with the smaller metal crystallite sizes (15–20 Å) reproducibly obtainable using metal cluster compounds as catalyst precursors. The highly specific activity for the hydrogenolysis of C-C bonds in saturated hydrocarbons has been applied to the selective cleavage of the alkyl group in ethylbenzene, giving toluene and methane. Conversions of up to 30% ethylbenzene have been observed at 225°C and 1 atm using a Ru₃(CO)₁₂/SiO₂-based catalyst. The xylenes, particularly o-xylene, are much less susceptible to hydrogenolysis and, at 225°C, relative hydrocarbon destruction rates of 30 : 1 and 7 : 1 have been observed using mixed feeds of ethylbenzene/o-xylene and ethylbenzene/p-xylene, respectively. Such a catalyst system can, in principle, therefore provide a means of separating ethylbenzene from its mixtures with xylenes.     

Catalytic properties of zeolites MCM-22 and NU-87 in disproportionation of toluene

The catalytic properties of MCM-22 and NU-87 were investigated for the disproportionation of toluene to produce benzene and xylene, and the results were compared with those obtained over mordenite, beta and ZSM-5. It turns out that dealumination of MCM-22 removes selectively the acid sites from the external surface and thus suppresses the secondary isomerization of p-xylene, enhancing the para-selectivity. This indicates that the dealuminated MCM-22 is a promising catalyst for the selective formation of p-xylene from toluene disproportionation. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isomerization processes in inclusion compounds: Xylenes in deoxycholic acid

The isomerization processes induced by UV photons in inclusion compounds of the host-guest type are examined, with special attention to the photophysics of the energy transfer process between the host and the guest, as well as to the influence of the host molecular cavity symmetry and the guest molecular symmetry. In particular, the experimental study has been carried out on the isomerization processes ofp-,m-, ando-xylene inside the molecular cavities of deoxycholic acid. The results have been compared with those obtained by irradiating the xylenes in an inert solution of hexane. The main difference is the elimination of by-products when the photochemical process is carried out in the solid state inclusion compound; however, the high purity of the isomerization product corresponds to a decrease in its yield with respect to the reaction in solution, due to the energy transfer process from the host to the guest moiety.     

The Photochemistry of Ketene the Reactions of Methylene with Toluene and P-Xylene in Vapor Phase (II)

In the photolysis of ketene with toluene in the vapor phase, ethylbenzene, xylenes, 2-methylcycloheptatriene-1, 3, 5, and three unidentified compounds are found as the products of the reactions of methylene with toluene. In the ketene-p-xylene system, p-ethyltoluene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,4-dimethylcyclohepatriene-1,3,5, and three unidentified compounds are obtained as the products of the reactions of methylene with p-xylene. The reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Use of silver trifluoroacetate together with lanthanide shift reagents for simplification of 1H NMR spectra of aromatic hydrocarbons

The equimolar mixtures of typical lanthanide shift reagents such as Eu(fod)₃, Pr(fod)₃ or Yb(fod)₃ with silver trifluoroacetate, previously used to induce paramagnetic shifts in the ¹H NMR spectra of alkenes, have been successfully applied to simple aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes. In benzene and p-xylene the signals of all the aromatic protons are shifted identically. In other substituted benzenes the magnitude of the induced shift depends on the distance between the proton and the substituents. In addition, the different behaviour of the signals of the methyl groups in meta-and para-xylene on the addition of the complex shift reagent allows the quantitative analysis of the two xylenes in their mixtures.     

Titanium dioxide nanotube fiber using in headspace solid-phase microextraction with GC–MS for BTEX detection

Anodized TiO₂ nanotube fibers using in-headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) have been exploited as an analytical method for volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) detection. The factors of anodizing time and annealing temperature for TiO₂ nanotube production are studied and the adsorption factors (time, ionic strength, and temperature) and desorption factors (time and temperature) for BTEX analysis are optimized. The limit of detections (LODs) for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene o-xylene, and m, p-xylene are 0.5, 0.1, 1.0, 1.0, and 2.0 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The linear ranges for BTEX (0.5–15,000 μg L⁻¹) and satisfactory linearity (R² ≥ 0.9954) are obtained. This method is successfully applied in real samples with the recoveries ranging from 92% to 97%. TiO₂ nanotube fiber is a promising technique for BTEX analysis.     

Highly Selective,High‐Capacity Separation of o‐Xylene from C8 Aromatics by a Switching Adsorbent Layered Material

Purification of the C₈ aromatics (xylenes and ethylbenzene) is particularly challenging because of their similar physical properties. It is also relevant because of their industrial utility. Physisorptive separation of C₈ aromatics has long been suggested as an energy efficient solution but no physisorbent has yet combined high selectivity (>5) with high adsorption capacity (>50 wt %). Now a counterintuitive approach to the adsorptive separation of o‐xylene from other C₈ aromatics involves the study of a known nonporous layered material, [Co(bipy)₂(NCS)₂]_n ( sql‐1‐Co‐NCS ), which can reversibly switch to C₈ aromatics loaded phases with different switching pressures and kinetics, manifesting benchmark o‐xylene selectivity (S_OX/EB≈60) and high saturation capacity (>80 wt %). Structural insight into the observed selectivity and capacity is gained by analysis of the crystal structures of C₈ aromatics loaded phases.     

Highly Selective,High‐Capacity Separation of o‐Xylene from C8 Aromatics by a Switching Adsorbent Layered Material

Purification of the C₈ aromatics (xylenes and ethylbenzene) is particularly challenging because of their similar physical properties. It is also relevant because of their industrial utility. Physisorptive separation of C₈ aromatics has long been suggested as an energy efficient solution but no physisorbent has yet combined high selectivity (>5) with high adsorption capacity (>50 wt %). Now a counterintuitive approach to the adsorptive separation of o‐xylene from other C₈ aromatics involves the study of a known nonporous layered material, [Co(bipy)₂(NCS)₂]_n ( sql‐1‐Co‐NCS ), which can reversibly switch to C₈ aromatics loaded phases with different switching pressures and kinetics, manifesting benchmark o‐xylene selectivity (S_OX/EB≈60) and high saturation capacity (>80 wt %). Structural insight into the observed selectivity and capacity is gained by analysis of the crystal structures of C₈ aromatics loaded phases.     

Characterization of C8H10 alkylbenzenes by negative ion mass spectrometry

The O^?˙ chemical ionization mass spectrri of the C₈H₁₀ alkylbenzenes, o-, m-. andp -xylene and ethylbenzene, show formation of [M ? H + O]^?, [M ? H]^?, [M ? H₂]^?˙ and, for the xylenes, [M ? CH₃ + O]^? as primary reaction products; the relative importance of these products depends on the isomer. However, [OH]^? is a primary product from reaction of O^?˙ with both the C₈H₁₀ isomers and hydrogen-containing impurities; [OH]^? reacts further with the alkylbenzenes to produce [M ? H]^? with the result that the chemical ionization mass spectra depend on experimental conditions such as sample size and the presence of impurities. The collision-induced charge inversion mass spectra of the [M ? H + O]^? and [M ? H]^? products allow only distinction of ethylbenzene from the xylenes. However, the collision-induced charge inversion mass spectra of the [M ? H₂]^?˙ ions show differences which allow identification of each isomer.     

Isothermal Phase Equilibrium Studies on the Binary Mixtures of some Alkylbenzenes

Abstract

The gas chromatographic method proposed by us for simple and accurate measurement of isothermal phase equilibria has been applied to the binary mixtures formed by alkylbenzenes amongst themselves. Results on the binary mixtures of: benzene - toluene, toluene + o-xylene, toluene + p-xylene, toluene + ethylbenzene, ethylbenzene + o-xylene and ethylbenzene + p-xylene are presented in this paper. The present measurements on benzene + toluene system at 40°C are in good agreement with the isothermal phase equilibrium data available in the literature.     

13C labelling study of the interconversion of ethylbenzene, 7-methylcycloheptatriene and p-xylene ions

The isomerization of the molecular ions of ethylbenzene, 7-methylcycloheptatriene and p-xylene by skeletal rearrangement prior to the formation of [C₇H₇]⁺ ions has been investigated by using ¹³C labelled compounds. The results obtained for ions generated by 70 eV and 12 eV electron impact, and fragmenting in the ion source, the 1st field free region and the 2nd field free region, respectively, are compared with those obtained from D labelled derivatives. It is shown that at long reaction times metastable p-xylene ions lose a methyl radical after scrambling of all C atoms and H atoms, while the unstable molecular ions in the ion source react by specific loss of one of the methyl substituents. Both unstable and metastable ethylbenzene ions fragment by two competing mechanisms, one corresponding to specific loss of the terminal methyl group, and the other involving scrambling of all C and H atoms. These results are discussed by use of a dynamic model developed for the mutual interconversion and fragmentation of the molecular ions of ethylbenzene, methylcyclo-heptatriene and p-xylene. The experimental results can be explained by an equilibrium between metastable methylcycloheptatriene ions and p-xylene ions with sufficient energy for skeletal rearrangement, while about 40% of the metastable ethylbenzene ions fragment after rearrangement to methylcycloheptatriene ions and about 60% of the ethylbenzene ions rearrange further to xylene ions before fragmentation. Metastable methylcycloheptatriene ions, mainly lose a methyl group without a skeletal rearrangement, however, because the rearranged ions are kinetically trapped as ‘stable’ xylene ions or ethylbenzene ions.     

Catalytic pyrolysis of HDPE in continuous mode over zeolite catalysts in a conical spouted bed reactor

A study has been carried out using HZSM-5, HY and Hβ zeolite-based catalysts in the pyrolysis of high density polyethylene (HDPE) continuously fed into a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) at 500 °C and atmospheric pressure, with the aim being to assess the yields and composition of the main products (both light olefins and automotive fuel hydrocarbons). Product streams have been grouped into seven lumps: light olefins (C₂–C₄) and light alkanes (<C₄) in the gas fraction, the liquid fraction consisting of three lumps (non-aromatic C₅–C₁₁ compounds, single-ring aromatics and C₁₁₊ hydrocarbons), wax and coke. The results are compared with those already obtained in thermal pyrolysis in a CSBR and with those obtained in the literature using catalysts in bubbling fluidized beds. HZSM-5 zeolite-based catalyst is very selective to light olefins, ≈58 wt% once equilibrated; whereas high yields of non-aromatic C₅–C₁₁ products (around 45 wt%) are obtained with Hβ and HY zeolite-based catalysts. Wax yield increases as reactions proceed, especially with HY and Hβ zeolite-based catalysts, due to catalyst deactivation by coke formation. Product distribution with the different catalysts and their evolution throughout continuous operation by feeding HDPE is explained according to the different properties of the zeolites used.     

A theoretical study of the interactions between N,N-dimethylformamide and xylenes

The ab initio and density functional (DFT) methods were performed on binary systems of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) with xylenes (o-, or m-, or p-xylene), and seven stable configurations were obtained with no imaginary frequencies. To obtain the interaction energies of these complexes, single-point energy calculations with basis set superposition error (BSSE) correction were carried out at B3LYP/6-31G* and MP2/6-31G* levels. The structures, Chelpg (charges from electrostatic potentials using a grid-based method) charge distribution and bond characteristics of the mentioned complexes were calculated. The results indicated the presence of double C–H···O hydrogen bonds between DMF and xylenes in these complexes and the interaction energies of hydrogen bonding between DMF and xylene systems decreased in the following sequence: DMF–o-xylene: a1 > DMF–m-xylene: b1 > DMF–p-xylene: c1.     

Selective alkylation of xylenes by alcohols on zeolite catalysts

The peculiarities of catalytic performance of crystalline aluminosilicates of different types and compositions (X, Y including dealuminated Y, mordenite, pentasil ZSM-5), as well as of amorphous aluminosilicate catalyst in conversion of xylene + alcohol mixtures were studied. New data were obtained for alkylation ofo-xylene withtert-butyl alcohol, concerning controlling the selectivity and stability of the zeolite catalysts in reactions proceeding with the participation of water, including the water evolved during the reaction, in particular by controlling the acidic properties and hydrophobycity of the zeolites. A catalyst ensuring production of 1,2-dimethyl-4-tert-butylbenzene (DMTBB) with a 94% yield and selectivity of alcohol conversion to the target product of 94–97% was developed. The catalyst can be used as the basis for a high-performance and environmentally safe method for the synthesis of DMTBB. The catalysts developed can be also used for selective alkylation ofo-xylene by C₃-C₅ alcohols and for alkylation ofm-xylene bytert-butyl alcohol.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No, 12, pp, 2912–2917, December, 1996.     

Pyrolysis of Propyne/2-Methylbut-1-ene-3-yne mixtures between 350 and 450°C

2-Methylbut-1-ene-3-yne and Propyne mixtures were pyrolyzed at 350–450°C in the absence and presence of O₂ and NO. The major product of the reaction is a polymer, but m-xylene and p-xylene are also produced and were studied as the species of interest. The C₈H₁₀ formation rate is first-order in C₃H₄ and C₅H₆. The rate coefficient is best fitted by though it is not inconsistent with where R is the ideal gas constant in kJ/mol-K. Experiments in the presence of NO show that m-xylene and p-xylene formation occur by two processes: a concerted molecular mechanism (? 41%) and a singlet diradical mechanism (? 59%).