A comparison of the reactivities of propanal and propylene on HZSM-5

The reactivities of propanal and propylene have been compared over HSZM-5 zeolites (Si/Al = 45 and 25). Propanal is found to be much more reactive than propylene and to form mostly 2-methyl-2-pentenal and C9 aromatics as early products in the reaction network. Propylene, in contrast, requires more severe conditions to form C6 and C7 aromatics. It is proposed that propanal undergoes acid-catalyzed aldol condensation to form 2-methyl-2-pentenal. This dimer undergoes further condensation to form the aldol trimer, which subsequently dehydrates and cyclizes into C9 aromatics. In contrast, it is well known that propylene, like other olefins, undergoes aromatization via oligomerization and formation of a hydrocarbon pool. While in the conversion of propanal, propylene is also produced, it appears that it does not play a major role in the formation of aromatics under conditions of shorter space times and lower temperatures, at which propanal produces aromatics in significant amounts.