Synthesis and investigation of ZSM-5 zeolite-based catalysts for benzene alkylation with ethylene

A catalyst for alkylation of benzene with ethylene to ethylbenzene has been prepared by mixing 70% H+-ZSM-5 zeolite having a silica ratio of 30 with 30% pseudoboehmite followed by shaping granules, their drying, and calcining for 6 h at 650°C in air. A part of the catalyst has been treated by steaming with 100% steam at 600°C for 3 h. The physicochemical and catalytic properties of catalyst samples have been studied. The catalysts have been tested in a laboratory setup in the temperature interval of 380–450°C at 2.5MPa, a benzene space velocity of 15 h−1, and a benzene/ethylene molar ratio of 7: 1. The properties of EBEMAX-1, an imported analogue of the catalysts have been studied under the same conditions. It has been found that the synthesized catalysts are not inferior to the imported sample in the catalytic properties.