Hierarchical composite materials based on ordered aluminosilicates of the Al–MCM-41 type and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with different Al–MCM-41/halloysite weight ratios have been synthesized and studied as components of supports of platinum catalysts for the isomerization of the C 8 aromatic fraction of reforming. At each synthesis stage, the materials have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH 3 -TPD). Catalyst systems with an Al–MCM-41/HNT weight ratio of 90 : 10 wt % have shown the highest efficiency in xylene isomerization providing a higher conversion of ethylbenzene and m -xylene than the conversion provided by the HNT-based catalyst. It has been found that the synthesized catalysts exhibit a higher selectivity for the target product of the process— p -xylene—than the selectivity of a commercial counterpart in a temperature range of 360–440°C. The maximum p -xylene selectivity (70%) has been achieved in the presence of a Pt/Al–MCM-41/HNT(90 : 10)/Al 2 O 3 catalyst at 360°C.

Sulfur-reducing additives for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts based on mesoporous aluminosilicates Al-SBA-15 and Al-SBA-16 were synthesized and characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, low-temperature N2 adsorption/desorption, and thermally programmed desorption of NH3. Catalytic experiments were performed using a commercial zeolite-containing FCC catalyst and the additives (10 wt.%). It was found that all synthesized materials were active for reducing sulfur in liquid catalytic cracking products. The S content in the liquid cracking products obtained using an additive of 3% La-Al-SBA-15/Al2O3 (50:50) decreased by 36% as compared to the same parameter obtained using the commercial catalyst with no additive.

Ru-containing catalysts based on aluminosilicate halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are synthesized by preliminary functionalization of the support surface by aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) followed by the microwave-assisted deposition of ruthenium to provide the intercalation of metal nanoparticles into the inner space of nanotubes. The composition and structure of the synthesized catalysts are studied by X-ray fluorescent analysis, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption, transmission electron microscopy, and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction. The activity of the catalysts in benzene hydrogenation at a temperature of 80°С and a hydrogen pressure of 3 MPa both in the hydrocarbon medium and in the two-phase system with water is studied. It is shown that, in the presence of water, the hydrogenating activity of the catalyst based on modified halloysite nanotubes is considerably higher than that of the sample prepared using the initial halloysite as a support.

Pt-containing catalysts based on halloysite aluminosilicate nanotubes and ZSM-5 zeolite were synthesized. The structure of the materials was confirmed by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption and by transmission electron microscopy. The activity and selectivity of the synthesized catalysts based on micromesoporous supports in isomerization of the xylene reforming fraction was studied on a flow-through laboratory installation with a fixed catalyst bed in the temperature interval 360–440°С at elevated hydrogen pressure. The influence exerted by the textural characteristics of the support and acidity of the materials on the catalyst activity in isomerization of o- and m-xylenes and of ethylbenzene with the aim of obtaining p-xylene was studied.