Aromatization of n-Hexane Under Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

The aromatization of n-hexane over HZSM-5 and ZnNi/HZSM-5 catalysts has been investigated using two different heating methods: microwave irradiation (MW) and conventional heating (CH). The results indicate that the aromatics and BTX yields under MW are higher than those under CH. n-Hexane aromatization mechanism under MW was similar to that under CH at the temperature below 673 K. However, the mechanism of n-hexane aromatization was different at the temperature from 673 K to 753 K. The higher the reaction temperature is, the more condensed-nucli aromatics are produced. Therefore, MW requires the lower reaction temperature when equal yields of aromatics and BTX are obtained.

Keywords:

• aromatization
• microwave irradiation
• n-hexane

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 20476042).