Oligomerization of endo-dicyclopentadiene using a mesoporous catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor

The oligomerization of endo-dicyclopentadiene (endo-DCPD) over a mesoporous catalyst in a continuous-flow reactor at elevated pressure was studied to produce tricyclopentadiene (TCPD) and tetracyclopentadiene (TeCPD). The mesoporous material prepared from zeolite beta (MMZ Hβ ) was utilized as a catalyst. In addition, this study focused on the catalytic performance of the regenerated catalyst in comparison with the fresh catalyst. The TCPD and TeCPD were continuously produced through DCPD oligomerization over the MMZ Hβ catalyst in a fixed bed reactor. At early time-on-stream, the conversion of endo-DCPD, the yield of TCPD and TeCPD, and the isomerization selectivity of TCPD in the fixed bed reactor were comparable to those in the batch-type reactor. The yield of oligomer containing TCPD and TeCPD decreased drastically from 28.5 % at 3 h time-on-stream to 21.5 % at 12 h time-on-stream, indicating that the catalyst was significantly deactivated. The in situ calcination in air flow at 500 °C was found to be effective for the regeneration of the used MMZ Hβ catalyst.