ISOMERIZATION OF M-XYLENE OVER THE MODIFIED NATURAL MORDENITE

Abstract

In the temperature range of 300-400 C in a fixed bed continuous flow type quartz reactor in the presence of hydrogen, the regularities of the transformation of m-xylene in the presence of Hand cationic forms of natural mordenite modified with transition metals were studied. It is shown that in the presence of H-mordenite, m-xylene undergoes isomerization to p- and o-xylenes in approximately equal amounts. Paraselectivity of the catalyst is 53.3%. Transition metal cations (Gd3+ Ni2+ Mn2+) exerting a promoting effect directs the transformation of m-xylene towards the formation of p-xylene, which leads to an increase in the paraselectivity of the catalyst. The maximum paraselectivity (77.6%) is achieved over the 0.74 Ni-mordenite at 450º C.