Desilicated TNU-9 and IM-5 in cracking processes

XRD, nitrogen sorption data, IR data for the 10-ring zeolites TNU-9 and IM-5 were obtained by a desilication. The zeolites were evaluated in series of acid-catalysed cracking reactions. n-Decane and 1,3,5-tri-iso-propylbenzene cracking were performed as model reactions, while vacuum gas oil, polypropylene and polyethylene were cracked into add-value lower molecular weight chemicals. The catalytic performance improvement of hierarchical zeolites was rationalized by deep acid sites characterization in situ FT-IR studies of pyridine, carbon monoxide and 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine sorption. Further, operando FT-IR-GC studies supported by 2D COS (two-dimensional correlation) analysis provided insight into cracking and coking of catalysts during polypropylene and polyethylene decomposition.