Hierarchical HMCM-22 zeolite with supercage architecture for efficient jet fuel production from 2-methyl-2-butene oligomerization

To develop high-efficiency catalysts for the oligomerization of light olefins to jet fuel, hierarchical nano-HZSM-5 and nano-HMCM-22 zeolites were synthesized via a dual-template strategy. The results show that although both nano-zeolites possessed nanostructured architectures and similar Si/Al ratio, the intrinsic discrepancy in their topological structures and acid properties were the important factors responsible for the difference in catalytic performance. Specifically, the synergistic effect of 12-membered ring supercages and hierarchical pores in HMCM-22 optimized the pore confinement effect, resulting in significantly higher catalytic activity and jet fuel selectivity than HZSM-5 with three-dimensional intersecting channels. The results demonstrated that the HMCM-22 exhibited a higher 2-methyl-2-butene conversion (95.6%) and jet fuel products yield (72.2%), which were 8.2% and 3.7% higher than those of the HZSM-5, respectively. In addition, HMCM-22 exhibits excellent activity for oligomerization at low temperatures. When the reaction temperature is 130 °C, the conversion rate of 2-methyl-2-butene can reach over 95%, with the selectivity for jet fuel fraction as high as 78%.