In this work, the effect of HZS
M-5 zeolite acidity on hydroconversion of
methylcyclohexane and toluene hasbeen studied. These are test reactions for the second step and the single step of aro
matic valorization process,respectively, with the ai
m of obtaining C
2+ n-alkanes and isoalkanes. Monofunctional HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts(Si:Al ratio between 15 and 140) have been studied in
methylcyclohexane ring opening while bifunctionalcatalysts (hybrid Pt/Al
2O
3-HZSM-5, sa
me zeolites) have been used in the hydrocracking of toluene. Runshave been carried out in a fixed bed reactor under 250-450
![](/i<font color=)
mages/entities/deg.gif">C and 20-80 bar. A positive effect of HZSM-5zeolite acidity on
methylcyclohexane conversion and C
2+ n-alkane selectivity is evident at certain conditions,whereas the
maxi
mu
m selectivity to isoalkanes requires an inter
mediate value of acidity. On the basis of therelationship between conversion and the Si:Al ratio of the HZSM-5 zeolite, the hydrogenolytic cracking of
methylcyclohexane is proposed as a test reaction to deter
mine the Si:Al ratio. Acidity has a highly favorableeffect in the hydrocracking of toluene given that it avoids the ther
modyna
mic restrictions for toluenehydrogenation and enhancing all the cracking steps during
methylcyclohexane (MCH) transfor
mation, whichincreases selectivity to C
2+ n-alkanes and isoalkanes.