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Optimum catalyst formulation for the aromatization of methylcyclopentane
Author(s) -
Jenkins B. G. M.,
Thomas W. J.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450480215
Subject(s) - methylcyclopentane , catalysis , aromatization , bifunctional , isothermal process , yield (engineering) , chemistry , benzene , catalytic reforming , platinum , diffusion , thermodynamics , chemical engineering , reaction rate , organic chemistry , physics , engineering
The formation of benzene from methylcyclopentane over platinum impregnated silica‐alumina represents a typical reforming reaction occurring in the presence of a bifunctional catalyst. A detailed experimental investigation enabled a previously established kinetic model of the system to be extended and parameters to be evaluated. By application of the maximum principle the catalyst composition could be formulated so as to maximize the yield of benzene, simultaneously suppressing the formation of undesirable products. For an isothermal reactor operating in a temperature region where chemical reaction is rate controlling, it was found that a constant catalyst composition along the reactor length represents a sub‐optimal policy which, nevertheless, closely approximates the optimal solution. The effect of intraparticle diffusion limitation on the optimum profile is also investigated. The model developed is limited to low conversions for the reaction model under dehydrogenative conditions.