CHARACTERIZATION OF THE POROUS STRUCTURE AND CRACKING ACTIVITY OF AL-PILLARED SAPONITES

A well-characterized saponite was intercalated with [Al13] polyoxo alu minium cations. Its surface area was studied by nitrogen and ethylene glycol adsorption: the relative validity of both techniques in the cas e of pillared clays was assessed and compared to the theoretically exp ected value. The structural stability was investigated both in high-te mperature treatments and upon aging under air at room temperature. The catalytic properties for cracking of a heavy petroleum feedstock were compared with those of a commercial FCC catalyst and with results fro m the literature concerning similar systems. Pillared Al-saponites pre sent several interesting properties: thermally stable porous structure and low coking. Their study seems promising in understanding the tran sformation of the pillars during calcination owing to the location of the aluminium only in the tetrahedral sheets.