ISOMERIZATION OF n-HEXANE AND n-PENTANE MIXTURE ON Pt-ALUMINA CATALYST

A mixture of n-hexane and n-pentane (1:1) by volume was isomerized on commercial Pt-alumina catalyst in a continuously fixed-bed reactor at atmospheric pressure. The effect of temperature, LHSV, hydrogen/hydrocarbon molar ratio and chlorine concentration were studied.

It was found that the yield of isohexanes and isopentane increases with increasing the chloride added up to 0.1 and 0.2 mole % CCl₄ respectively. The rate of isomerization became slower at higher concentrations.

Isomerization activity of the catalyst increases with increasing temperature ranging between 350-400°C. The yield of isomers decrease with increasing temperature above 400°C.

The relative conversion of n-hexane in the mixture was found to be more than the conversion of pure n-hexane at the same conditions.