n-Butane isomerization on metal-promoted sulfated zirconia Original Research Article

The promoting effect of metal cations addition to SO42−single bondZrO2 in n-butane isomerization is studied. Several metal cations (Pt, W, Ni, Co, Fe, Cr) supported on SO42−single bondZrO2, or in an inert material mechanically mixed with SO42−single bondZrO2, produce an increase in the rate of n-C4 isomerization. Cu has an inhibiting effect. The metals or their oxides provide the dehydrogenation capacity that can produce C4 alkenes, which in turn can influence the mechanism of isomerization. These C4 alkenes can be added to the pool generated by the strong Lewis acid-base pair of SO42−single bondZrO2 leading to an increase in the isomerization rate.