Solid-acid catalyzed paraffin alkylation with rare earth-modified molecular sieve adsorbents

Abstract

This invention describes methods of alkylating isobutane which include a catalytic reaction system comprising a crystalline zeolite catalyst and a rare earth-modified molecular sieve adsorbent (RE-MSA). The crystalline zeolite catalyst comprises sodalite cages and supercages, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 0.5 weight percent alkali metals; and up to 5 wt % of Pt, Pd and or Ni, and acid-site density (including both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites) of at least 100 μmole/gm. The RE-modified molecular sieve adsorbent (Re-MSA) comprising sodalite cages and supercages, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 1 wt % of alkali metals, RE (rare earth elements) in the range of 10 to 30 wt % and transition metals selected from groups 9-11 in the range from 2 wt % to 10 wt; and acid-site density of no more than 30 μmole/gm. The invention also includes methods of making RE-MSA.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.