Hydroisomerization of n-heptane over bimetal-bearing H3PW12O40 catalysts supported on dealuminated USY zeolite

The bimetal-bearing (CePt or LaPt) 12-tungstophosphoric acid (H3PW12O40 (PW)) catalysts supported on dealuminated USY zeolite (DUSY) were prepared by impregnation and characterized by XRD, BET, IR, and H-2-chemisorption. Their catalytic activities were tested in the hydroisomerization of n-heptane with a continuous atmospheric fixed-bed reactor. After the steam treatment combined with the acid leaching, as well as the supporting with PW and the bimetals, the DUSY support retains the Y zeolite porosity and the PW well keeps its Keggin structure in catalysts. The doping of Ce into the catalysts enhances the dispersion of Pt on the catalyst surface. The Pt-bearing PW catalysts doped with Ce or La, especially Ce, exhibit much higher catalytic activity and selectivity than the catalysts without dopants at lowered reaction temperatures. At the optimal reaction conditions, i.e., the reaction temperature of 250 degrees C and WHSV of 1.4 h(-1), the catalyst with a Pt loading of 0.4%, PW loading of 10% and a molar ratio of Ce to Pt of 15:1 shows a conversion of n-heptane of 70.3% with a high selectivity for isomerization products of 94.1%.