n-Hexane cracking on binderless zeolite HZSM-5 coated monolithic reactors Original Research Article

The transformation of n-hexane to gasoline-range hydrocarbons over binderless zeolite HZSM-5 coated monolithic reactors is studied here. Experimental conversion and hydrocarbon product selectivity in these reactors are compared with results reported for conventional packed bed reactors consisting of catalyst pellets. A theoretical analysis reveals that the conversion of n-hexane in HZSM-5 coated monoliths is controlled by configurational counterdiffusion of reactant and product molecules in the intracrystalline zeolite catalyst pores. The average zeolite crystal size of 6 μm, used in this study, is within the range (0.01–20 μm) reported for configurational diffusion to occur in n-hexane cracking.