HYDROTHERMAL ACTIVATION OF SILICA-ALUMINA FOR BUTENE ISOMERIZATION. A DEVICE TO PREPARE A STANDARD SAMPLE.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.53.3039

Three kinds of silica-alumina catalysts were prepared by hydrothermal treatment (heating a sample in hot water) over the range of 25-250 degree C for various periods. It was found that the hydrothermal treatment significantly increased its catalytic activity for butene isomerization. The dependencies of various surface properties (the production ratio of 2-butene isomers, the surface acidity, the surface area, the pore-size distribution, and the shape and size of the catalyst particle) on the hydrothermal conditions and the kind of starting catalyst sample were systematically investigated, too. It is concluded that the increase in the catalyst activity might be due to the progress of the Si/Al isomorphic substitution in the tetrahedral surface silica network. Hot water might serve as a solvent for the cations and facilitate their movements.