n-Hexane isomerization over copper oxide-promoted sulfated zirconia supported on mesoporous silica

Copper oxide-promoted sulfated zirconia (CuSZ) was supported on MCM-41 by the direct impregnation method. n-Hexane isomerization was investigated over the CuSZ/MCM-41 catalysts. 2-MP, 3-MP and 2,3-DMB are the major isomerization products, besides a small amount of 2,2-DMB. The product distribution is comparable to that reported for Pt based catalysts. The optimal CuO loading in these catalysts calcined at 700 °C is around 3.2 wt% and only leads to the formation of catalytic active metastable tetragonal ZrO₂. The improved performance of CuO-promoted SZ/MCM-41 is a trade-off between the sulfur amount and the content of tetragonal ZrO₂ phase.