SKELETAL ISOMERIZATION OF N-BUTANE OVER MORDENITE AND BETA-ZEOLITE

It was found that the addition of platinum (3 wt.%) substantially incr eases the total n-butane conversion and selectivity to isobutane over H-Beta zeolite. The same holds for H-Mordenite; however, the conversio n significantly decreases in time at 350 degrees C due to the coking o f the catalyst. The selectivity to isobutane is the highest at 300 deg rees C over both zeolite types with platinum (over Pt/H-Beta 1.8 times higher than over Pt/H-Mordenite at almost the same conversion levels of 30 and 36%, respectively). The I-I-forms of both zeolite types are most selective at 250 degrees C, but the total conversion is low. The results obtained are related to the structural features of both zeolit e types.