Poly-functional Catalyst Development for Benzene Production from Alkyl-aromatic Mixture via Hydrodealkylation

Development of a poly-functional catalyst that has higher hydrodealkylation activity based on 15% Cr/γ- Al₂ O₃ was researched for benzene production from an alkyl-aromatic mixture via hydrodealkylation. For this goal, the effects of the promoters like Fe, Co, or Ni and their concentrations on the activity of a Cr/Al₂ O₃ catalyst were investigated. Toluene + n-heptane + tetrahydrotiophene (89:10:1 w%) model mixture, which has the same content as industrial aromatics, was used as feedstock. The activities of catalysis in reactions of hydrodealkylation, hydrocracking, and hydrogenolize with respect to conversions of toluene, heptane, and tetrahydrotiophene were tested, respectively. As to the obtained results, the catalyst including 5% Fe has a higher hydrodealkylation activity, compared to the catalyst including Co, and especially to the alumocrom catalyst not including a promoter, while it has a lower coke formation and reduced activity to the catalyst including Ni.