Influence of W loading, support type, and preparation method on the performance of zirconia or alumina-supported Pt catalysts for n-dodecane hydroisomerization

•Conversion of n-C12 grows with %W loading for alumina and zirconia supports.•Branched C12 hydrocarbons are the main products obtained (>80%).•Catalysts prepared by a one-step method are the most active.•Activity results show that 15 %W and alumina support exhibit the highest conversions.•Catalysts physicochemical properties strongly affect C12 conversion and selectivity. Catalysts based on zirconia and alumina-supported tungsten oxides (3–18 wt% W) with a small loading of platinum (0.3 wt% Pt) were selected to study the influence of W loading, support type, and preparation methods on the hydroisomerization of n-dodecane. The alumina- and zirconia-supported catalysts show different catalytic properties that play an important role in n-dodecane conversion. Specific surface area and acidity of the alumina-supported catalysts are clearly higher than those of zirconia-supported counterparts. The 15 wt% W loaded catalysts were found to exhibit the best catalytic performance for the hydroisomerization of n-dodecane for both zirconia and alumina (67% of n-C12 conversion and 87% of i-C12 selectivity) based catalysts. Catalysts prepared by a single-step wet impregnation method were more active in the hydroisomerization of n-dodecane than catalysts prepared via several consecutive steps.