Si-MFI/Catapal system an economic catalyst for the conversion of dodecane to olefins at mild temperature

Herein, we studied the activity of silica modified catalyst system (Si-MFI) mixed with two binders (Catapal and kaolin) in the cracking of dodecane at 350 °C.We have prepared and characterized different zeolite binder ratios ranging from 40 wt% up to 90 wt%. X-ray analysis, scanning emission microscopy and BET surface area analysis showed that Si-MFI/binder systems maintained structural and morphological properties after preparation. We found that catapal binder was more effective in the preparation of zeolite binder matrices for dodecane conversion to olefins. Furthermore, the concentration and sorption properties of binders had significant effect on product selectivity and gas/liquid product distribution. Among zeolite/binder systems, matrix with 90 % catapal and 10 % zeolite (B90 %Z10 %) had excellent conversion of dodecane, reasonable light olefin yield of ca. 38 wt% and is a cheap catalyst system since it constitutes 90. wt.% binder.