Effect of support acid–basic properties on activity and selectivity of Pt catalysts in reaction of methylcyclopentane ring opening Original Research Article

Methylcyclopentane (MCP) ring opening (RO) was studied over platinum containing catalysts prepared on acid and basic (neutral) supports. The acid supports included mordenite, Y, MFI, beta, omega zeolite and gamma alumina modified with chlorine. The basic (neutral) supports included l-zeolite, hydrotalcite, theta and gamma aluminas, SiO2 modified with potassium. It was demonstrated that the selectivity of MCP RO depends on the acid–base properties of the catalysts. In the presence of acid catalysts, selectivity to RO is low and the main reaction is MCP isomerization to cyclohexane (CH) followed by dehydrogenation and formation of aromatics (ARs). On the basic catalysts, the selectivity to RO is very high (up to 98%) as the acid catalyzed isomerization and cracking reactions are almost completely suppressed. The addition of potassium neutralizes the acid active sites of the bifunctional acid catalysts and converts them to monometalic basic catalysts, which are favorable for nonselective MCP RO with C6 paraffins distribution close to statistical distribution.