Hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolite designed by combining desilication and dealumination with related study of n-heptane cracking performance

The effect of the basic (NaOH) and/or acid (citric acid and EDTA-2Na) treatment of ZSM-5 zeolite has been studied comparing the structural and acidic features and their catalytic performance in n-heptane cracking. The properties of the catalysts have been elucidated using XRD, N₂ low-temperature sorption, ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si NMR, pyridine adsorbed FTIR, NH₃–TPD, SEM and TEM analysis. The results showed that the degree of desilication and dealumination of ZSM-5 zeolites was greatly dependent on the agents. NaOH obviously created new mesopores on parent ZSM-5 zeolites by desilication. Citric acid contributed to the removal of nonframework Al species, causing the increase of micropore surface area. EDTA-2Na promoted desilication and simultaneously converted part of removed framework Al species into nonframework Al species. The treatment of ZSM-5 combined with those three agents was very effective to obtain a hierarchical structure with partial breakdown of the crystallites and high acid amounts of both Brönsted and Lewis acid sites. Catalytic tests showed that the post-treated ZSM-5 catalysts had higher activity and stability than parent ZSM-5 catalyst at the same reaction temperature. The synergetic effect of Brönsted acid and Lewis acid of ZSM-5 catalyst (Z5-ACE) probably facilitated n-heptane conversion, while more clean micropore and newly created mesopores facilitated the slight increase of olefin selectivity and suppressing the formation of coke deposition in its inherent micropores to some extent.