Hydroisomerization of n-butane over hybrid catalysts

The influence of reduction temperature, metal incorporation technique, and metal loading on the hydroisomerization of n-butane over hybrid catalysts p repared by physically mixing H-mordenite (HMOR) and Pd/montmorillonite (Mon t) was studied. Temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPDA), Fourie r transform infrared (FTIR), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA), BET surfa ce area/pore size distributions, and chemisorption measurements were used t o characterize the catalysts. The method used to load the metal was found t o be an important factor that affected the final catalyst acid properties, metal dispersion and, hence, its activity and selectivity. Thus, the highes t selectivity to isobutane was achieved over an ion-exchanged catalyst. Com pared to classic metal-supported HMOR catalysts, hybrid catalysts showed a higher selectivity to isobutane. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V All rights r eserved.