Catalytic Conversion of 1-butene over Modified Versions of Commercial ZSM-5 to Produce Clean Fuels and Chemicals

The oligomerisation of light olefins, obtainable from fossil/renewable sources and refinery streams, is an attractive route to produce clean synthetic fuels and added-value chemicals. ZSM-5 is a type of catalyst used in commercial olefin oligomerisation processes. Using appropriate modification procedures, it was possible to prepare catalysts with improved performances. Various modified versions of commercially available ZSM-5 were prepared and investigated for 1-butene oligomerisation under high-pressure, continuous-flow operation (30 bar, 200 degrees C). Simple, up-scalable top-down strategies involving base-acid treatments of ZSM-5 led to catalysts possessing enlarged pores and the required acidity for converting 1-butene to higher molar mass products. In targeting diesel type products, the modified catalysts led to up to 86% butenes conversion, space time yield of 852 mgg(cat)(-1)h(-1) and mass ratio diesel:naphtha cuts of 2.2. Characterisation studies and multivariate/principal component analysis helped categorise the differently prepared catalysts, and gain insights into complex interplay of material properties influencing the catalytic reaction.