Effect of ZSM-5 zeolite morphology on the catalytic performance of the alkylation of toluene with methanol

A series of ZSM-5 zeolites, with the morphologies of sphere, sphere with cubic particles on the surface, and cubic particles, were synthesized by hydrothermal method using n-butylamine as the template, assisted by the addition of NaCl and crystal seed. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD) were used to characterize these samples. The samples were tested with toluene methylation reaction. The modified sample composed of spherical particles with 3 mu m crystal particles on the surface had a para-xylene selectivity of 95% and maintained 79% of the initial conversion after running the reaction for 50 h. This modified sample showed the best stability among the tested three modified samples.