Catalytic activity of synthetic saponite clays: effects of tetrahedral and octahedral composition

This paper describes the catalytic characteristics of synthetic saponites with well-known chemical composition, thermal stability, and acidity in three catalytic reactions: (1) catalytic cracking of n-dodecane, (2) hydro-isomerisation of n-heptane, and (3) Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzene. Saponites with Mg in the octahedral position were by far the best catalysts for the catalytic cracking of n-dodecane, which can be explained by the higher surface area of these saponites compared with saponites with other compositions. All saponites performed better in the hydro-isomerisation reaction of n-heptane and Friedel–Crafts alkylation compared with commercially available catalysts such as HZSM-5 and ASA. The shape selectivity in the Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzene for p- and o-DIOPB was remarkably high for the synthetic saponites.