Normal hexane hydroisomerization over alumina modified Pt/SO 4 2-/ZrO 2 catalyst

Pt/SO4 2-/ZrO2-Al2O3 (PSZA) catalysts were prepared by extruding sulfated hydroxide zirconium with SB powder. The n-hexane hydroisomerization reaction was performed in a continuous flow fixed-bed reactor. Isomerization activities under varying pretreatment parameters (including catalyst storage time before use, activating temperature, and reduction temperature) and reaction conditions (including reaction temperature, space velocity, and the molar ratio of hydrogen to n-hexane) were investigated. The results indicated the optimum pretreatment conditions for the PSZA catalyst is as follows: five days of storage, 350 degrees C of the activation temperature, and 250 degrees C of the reduction temperature. In addition, the optimum reaction conditions contained the reaction temperature ranging from 200 to 210 degrees C, space velocity of 1 hr-1, and hydrogen to hexane mole ratio of 5.