The hydroconversion of n-dodecane on Pt/SAPO-11 catalyst with 0.5 wt%
Pt, was carried out in a microcatalytic pulse reactor at 523-673 K, hy
drogen pressure of 3 bar and hydrocarbon pulses in the 0.5-5 mu l rang
e. Under these conditions, yields of feed isomers as well as cracking
products are a function of the total n-dodecane conversion. Primary pr
oducts are the methylundecanes while multibranched isomers and cracked
products are formed in successive reactions. The high selectivities o
f Pt/SAPO-11 for isomerization of n-dodecane are due to the inhibition
of the formation of highly branched (and, hence, relatively bulky) ca
rbocations, which are the precursors for the energetically most favora
ble type A beta-scissions, inside the pores of SAPO-11. (C) 1998 Elsev
ier Science B.V.