Alkylation of benzene with ethane was carried out using various zeolite cat
alysts at temperature ranges of 400-550 degreesC. Loading of platinum onto
zeolite greatly enhanced the yield of ethylbenzene. Among the zeolites test
ed, H-ZSM5 and H-MCM22 showed catalytic activities. By contrast, mordenite
did not yield ethylbenzene. Moderate acid strength distribution is the key
factor of zeolite catalysts. Optimum catalyst and conditions for this react
ion are as follows. The platinum-loaded H-ZSM5 catalyst containing 6.8 wt%
Pt, at a reaction temperature of 500 degreesC, afforded ethylbenzene and st
yrene formation rates of 14.2 and 0.8 mmol h(-1) g-cat(-1), respectively (b
enzene-based yields 7.3 and 0.4%). In the alkylation of benzene with ethane
over platinum-loaded H-ZSM5. ethene was initially formed from ethane over
the metallic platinum. Then the alkylation proceeded over the acid sites of
H-ZSM5.