Conversion of decalin and 1-methylnaphthalene over AlSBA-15 supported Pt catalysts

Platinum catalysts (1.5 wt.%) containing AlSBA-15 obtained with various aluminium precursors were tested for activity in 1-methylnaphthalene hydrogenation. Experiments were carried out in a continuous-flow system at atmospheric pressure (240–350 °C, W/F = 0.8 g s/cm3). It was found that 1-methylnaphthalene conversion over Pt-loaded catalysts was not influenced by the aluminium precursor used in the preparation of the Pt/AlSBA-15 catalysts. However, the Pt catalyst prepared with AlSBA-15 obtained from aluminium sulphate provided a higher cis-methyldecalins/trans-methyldecalins ratio in the reaction products as compared to the catalysts obtained with aluminium nitrate or aluminium isopropoxide. Consideration was also given to the influence of platinum amount (0.5, 2.5 and 4.5 wt.%) on the catalytic performance of bifunctional Pt/AlSBA-15 catalysts (AlSBA-15 obtained with aluminium sulphate) in decalin hydroconversion. It was shown that impregnation of AlSBA-15 with H2PtCl6 increased Brønsted acidity. Investigations into decalin conversion were conducted in a continuous-flow system with a fixed-bed reactor (5 MPa, 300–380 °C, H2:CH = 500 N m3/m3; WHSV = 2 h−1). Incorporation of 0.5 wt.% Pt into AlSBA-15 yielded a catalyst with the highest dispersion of the platinum phase and the highest yield of ring opening products, amounting to 26.4 wt.% at 380 °C.