STUDY OF ALKANE ISOMERIZATION ON SUPERACIDIC CATALYSTS ON THE BASIS OF SO4 ZRO2/

The catalytic activity of superacidic catalysts on the basis of SO4/Zr O2 in n-alkane isomerization is studied. Such systems are shown to rev eal high activity in the isomerization of paraffins, and their catalyt ic properties depend on the length of the carbon chain in the alkane a nd on the nature of the modifying additives. Isomerization of n-butane proceeds via a bimolecular mechanism on strong Bronsted acid sites. I ntroduction of gallium enhances the catalytic activity of SO4/ZrO2 in the isomerization of rt-butane due to stabilizaton of acidic centers a nd the ability of gallium to activate alkane molecules. Isomerization of n-hexane proceeds essentially via a monomolecular mechanism involvi ng dehydrogenation of the paraffin as an intermediate step. Introducti on of platinum increases the catalytic activity of the SO4/ZrO2 system in n-hexane isomerization due to enhancement of dehydrogenating prope rties of the catalyst.