SKELETAL ISOMERIZATION OF 1-BUTENE OVER FERRIERITE AND ZSM-5 ZEOLITES- INFLUENCE OF ZEOLITE ACIDITY

Three ferrierite (FER) and five ZSM-5 (MFI) zeolites with SiO2/Al2O3 r atio ranging from 27 to 2000 are tested as catalysts for the skeletal isomerization of 1-butene at 350-450 degrees C and atmospheric total p ressure in order to study the influence of acidity and pore structure of zeolite on conversion and selectivity. The catalytic and NH3 temper ature-programmed desorption results from FER and MFI catalysts with th e same SiO2/Al2O3 ratio reveal that the pore structure of FER zeolite rather than its acidity may play an important role in achieving high s electivity for the skeletal isomerization of 1-butene to isobutene.