Isomerization and Hydrocracking of n-Decane over Bimetallic Pt–Pd Clusters Supported on Mesoporous MCM-41 Catalysts

n-Decane hydroconversion has been investigated on bifunctional catalysts comprising bimetallic Pt–Pd clusters supported on an AlMCM-41 (n_Si/n_Al = 23) mesoporous molecular sieve. The catalytic activity of the bimetallic Pt–Pd catalysts is higher than that of the monometallic Pt and Pd catalysts. The good balance between the two catalytic functions, namely acid sites and metal sites, also results in a higher isomer yield at a substantially lower reaction temperature. Moreover, cracking on the metal sites (hydrogenolysis) is largely suppressed over certain bimetallic catalysts.