Cumene cracking on modified mesoporous material type MCM-41

The effect of ionic exchange degree of aluminated mesoporous materials H(X)-AIMCM-41 materials, the method of its exchange mode and its grains form were investigated for the mesoporous catalytic activity in the cumene (i.e. isopropylbenzene) cracking reaction. Benzene, propylene and xylene derivatives are the main products of this reaction. Olefins like butene and pentene appeared as the products of secondary reactions. No saturated hydrocarbons, except traces of butane, nor ethylbenzene and toluene were formed and seemed to be typical products of secondary reactions obtained with HNaY zeolites. Generally the exchanged H(X)-AIMCM41 materials by the substitution of Na+ by NH4+ are more active than those exchanged directly with acid solution (substitution of N+ by H+) even if both the two methods used exhibit a comparable content of acid sites within catalysts at a low exchange degrees. However, the first method of exchange has exhibited an important acidity for mesoporous materials when the ionic exchange degree was increased up to 90%; it was probably due not only to the percentage of exchanged degree but also to the distribution of acid sites within the materials.