Fluoranthene formation over zeolites

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0045-6535(96)00041-0

Gaseous 1-phenylnaphthalene was allowed to react with two H⁺ZSM-5 zeolites distinguished by a different acidity. The isomerisation to 2-phenylnaphthalene was the principal reaction observed, but also fragmentation to benzene plus naphthalene and self-condensation to fluoranthene occurred. The yields of all the products were higher when the more acidic zeolite was used. A temperature dependence study showed that, varying the temperature from 390 to 450°C, the yield of fluoranthene increased. By the Arrhenius plots for fluoranthene formation it was concluded that the activation energy of this reaction is independent on the acidity of zeolites.