Alkylation of benzene with ethanol over modified HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts

Alkylation of benzene with ethanol was analysed using unmodified as well as modified shape selective HZSM-5 (Si/Al = 31) zeolite catalysts. The reaction was carried out in a continuous fixed bed flow reactor in the temperature range of 300-500 degrees C at atmospheric pressure to investigate the activity of various catalysts for the selectivity and yield of ethylbenzene (the desired product). The alkylation of benzene with ethanol (2:1 by volume) produces ethyl benzene as primary product and others like diethylbenzene, triethylbenzene and xylene mixtures as secondary products. The modification of HZSM-5 was done by impregnation using boron and magnesium. The modification caused changes in the surface area, acidity and pore volume of zeolite sample. The physiochemical properties of catalysts were characterised by XRD, TEM, BET, TGA, FTIR, NH3-TPD and SEM. The feed and products were analysed by gas chromatography. The conversion of benzene was found to be better in bi metallic (B and Mg) modified HZSM-5 followed by unmodified HZSM-5. The modified catalysts gave better selectivity (72.8 %) and yield (38.1 %) of ethylbenzene.