Influence of hydrothermal treatment on the acid and redox functions of a Ga/HZSM5 catalyst

After steaming at 530° C for 30 minutes and for 6 hours, a Ga/HZSM5 catalyst was characterized by three model reactions (meta-xylene isomerization, propane aromatization and methylcyclohexane transformation). The activity and selectivity of this catalyst were compared to those of a fresh Ga/HZSM5 catalyst. It was demonstrated that hydrothermal treatment provokes a significant decrease in the dehydrogenation activity of the gallium species and a small decrease in the protonic acidity of the catalyst.