| Abstract: | The relative rates of toluene transalkylation, disproportionation and benzene transalkylation of m-xylene over a catalyst consisting of 72% HY zeolite, 18% β-AlF3 and 10% (all w/w) Cu have been studied at a temperature of 723K, reciprocal space velocity of 352 g h?1 mol?1 and at total pressures varying between 101 and 911.93 kPa. The catalysed disproportionation of m-xylene is fastest and this has been explained in terms of the greater basicity of m-xylene over either benzene or toluene, whereas the catalyst is acidic. Thus m-xylene would be expected to adsorb more strongly on the catalyst. |
