Catalytic properties and acidity of modified MCM-41 mesoporous materials with low Si/Al ratio: Heptane isomerisation

The catalytic properties and acidity of modified MCM-41 with a low Si/Al ratio and 0-95% NH4+ exchange were investigated. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. The acidity was studied by pyridine adsorption, temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of ammonia and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Adsorption of pyridine and IR spectroscopy indicated various types of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites. The density distribution of acid sites was determined by TPD. Both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites were found to be active in the heptane isomerisation. The presence of aluminium (low Si/Al) combined to the ionic exchange between Na+ and NH4+ increases the acidity of MCM-41 materials. A close correlation between acidity and isomerisation was observed. Coke deposition, which reduces the activity, was also studied.