Physical Mixture of ZSM-5 and Mordenite Zeolites as an active catalyst for Catalytic Cracking of n-Heptane

Catalytic cracking is of most important conversion processes used in petroleum refineries1. The main objective of this process is the conversion of high molecular weight hydrocarbons to more valuable products including light olefins2. Zeolites which are crystalline aluminosilicate materials are widely used as shape selective catalysts in this proces3. They have defined micropores close to molecular diameters of light hydrocarbons, causing a significant molecular sieving effects4. Catalytic cracking of pure hydrocarbons is usually used as a model compound of light naphtha to study the behavior of these catalysts in industrial processes 5. In this study, the performance of ZSM-5, mordenite and ZSM-5/Mordenite mixture (3:1) was investigated in catalytic cracking of n-Heptane.