Disproportionation of ethylbenzene over deeply dealuminated Y zeolites Original Research Article

Zeolite Y with different framework and non-framework aluminum contents were obtained by a combination of steaming/acid leaching treatments. The samples were investigated using various physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The hydrothermal dealumination produced an enrichment of aluminum at the external surface. Nevertheless, the acid leaching removed part of these aluminum species preferentially at the external surface. The treatments also led to the appearance of mesopores. Catalytic activity data showed that the non-framework aluminum has not influenced the disproportionation of ethylbenzene and that deeply dealuminated Y zeolites increase the formation of the para-isomer.