Catalytic behavior of ITQ-13 zeolite in benzene and toluene ethylation

The ITQ-13 zeolite (ITH) presents a three-dimensional channel system formed by channels delimited by rings of 9 and 10 tetrahedra (9MR and 10MR). This material has been studied as a catalyst in reactions of interest in the petrochemical industry, which are carried out on a commercial scale in the presence of medium-pore zeolites, such as the alkylation of benzene or toluene with ethylene or ethanol. Due to its acidic properties and its particular topology, zeolite ITQ-13 presents a comparable activity to that of ZSM-5 or MCM-22, employed at commercial scale, but also higher selectivity to the main alkylation products and lower deactivation rate. The large cavities located at the intersections between the 9MR and 10MR channels, capable of hosting larger reaction intermediates than ZSM-5, and the greater activity of its external surface, could be responsible for the improved catalytic behavior of ITQ-13.