Tandem aromatization of pentane with temperature shifting three-stage fluidized bed reactor

Conversion of pentane into aromatics was carried out in a temperature shifting, three-stage fluidized bed reactor, where the temperature was set to be 500 degrees C, 560 degrees C, and 350 degrees C, from the bottom to the top, respectively. The catalysts of Ga/P/ZSM-5 were packed into the first stage (near the bottom of the reactor) and second stage (middle), while catalysts of HZSM-5 were packed into the third (top) stage. Pentane was nearly completely transformed at the first stage, while the aromatics yield was sustainably increased from the first to the second, and finally to the third stage. Detailed product distribution analysis suggested that the aromatization of pentane mainly occurred in the first stage, intermediate products such as C3-C4 paraffins could be effectively transformed via the aromatization reaction in the second stage. Olefins were further transformed into aromatics by the alkylation reaction in the third stage. Within 10 cycles of reaction-catalyst regeneration, stable aromatization with high efficiency was realized for 105 h.

Automated summary

The conversion of pentane into aromatics was successfully achieved using a temperature shifting, three-stage fluidized bed reactor. It was found that the distribution of catalysts in different stages had a significant impact on the product distribution.