CONVERSION OF BENZENE TO SUBSTITUTED AROMATIC PRODUCTS OVER ZEOLITE CATALYSTS AT ELEVATED PRESSURES

The conversion of benzene to toluene and other substituted aromatic pr oducts has been investigated at elevated pressure and temperature. Ove r sodium-free H-Y and H-beta zeolites at 400-degrees-C, 700 psi, and a methane/benzene feed ratio of 8/1, a wide range of methylated aromati c hydrocarbons was produced, with toluene (ca. 50%) being the principa l component. Over H-beta zeolite, CH4 and CO2, when co-fed with the be nzene reactant, enhanced the yield of aromatic products in comparison to co-fed N2 or H-2. Isotopic tracer experiments, utilizing (CH4)-C-13 co-feed, demonstrated that methane reactant does not become incorpora ted into the ''methylated'' aromatic products over zeolite beta and th at all of the observed hydrocarbon products were derived solely from t he benzene reactant.