Improved Selectivity toward Light Olefins in the Reaction of Toluene with Methanol Over the Modified HZSM-5 Catalyst

Light olefins and para-xylene were produced with high selectivity in the reaction of toluene with methanol over a modified HZSM-5 catalyst. Ordered mesoporous structure and weaker acidic sites led to significant contribution to the selectivity toward para-xylene. By means of a single-pulse reaction and the temperature-programmed surface reaction, it was confirmed that the presence of toluene and as-produced xylene shortened the reaction induction period and reduced the formation temperature of ethylene and propylene, which was beneficial to improve the selectivity toward light olefins, particularly ethylene.