HYDROCRACKING OF ALKYL-SUBSTITUTED POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS OVER ZnCl2/CuCl MOLTEN SALT CATALYST.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.51.3631

The hydrocracking of alkyl derivatives of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, anthracene, dihydroanthracene, phenanthrene, and dihydrophenanthrene) over ZnCl//2/CuCl molten salt was examined at 400 degree C for 3 h in a batch autoclave system. The kinds of alkyl groups, the positions of the alkyl groups, and types of condensed rings were changed in order to clarify the decomposition process of the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. On the basis of the detailed product distribution obtained by using GC-MS, the behavior of the alkyl group attached to the condensed ring under these reaction conditions was found to be different. Generally, in this investigation, the alkyl group was not completely dealkylated in the initial stage and remained in the products as monocyclic aromatics; the extent of dealkylation was found to be dependent upon the type of starting materials. In the hydrocracking of 9,10-dihydroanthracene, dehydrogenation occurred in preference to the opening of the central ring. 15 refs.