Catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons over modified ZSM-5 zeolites to produce light olefins: A review

• Published in: Applied catalysis. A, General Vol. 398; no. 1; pp. 1 - 17
• Main Authors: Rahimi, Nazi, Karimzadeh, Ramin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15-05-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalytic cracking; Chemistry; Element modification; Ethylene; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics; General and physical chemistry; Hydrocarbons; Ion-exchange; Lewis/Brønsted acid sites; Light olefins; Olefins; Propylene; Rare earth elements; Surface physical chemistry; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Zeolites; Zeolites: preparations and properties; ZSM-5; Lewis/Brønsted acid sites; Light olefins; ZSM-5; Element modification; Catalytic cracking; Modification; Steam cracking; Acidic site; Ethylene; Selectivity; Review; Mechanism; Promoter; Brönsted acid; Chemical properties; Lewis acid; Catalytic reaction; Lewis site; Hydrocarbon; Phosphorus; Acidity; Bronsted site; Ethane; Heterogeneous catalysis; Propene; Olefin; Ethylenic compound; Catalyst
• ISSN: 0926-860X; 1873-3875
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2011.03.009

[Display omitted]
► Review of light olefin production via catalytic cracking of various industrial feedstocks over modified ZSM-5 zeolites. ► The influence of various promoters, i.e. alkali and alkaline earth, transition, rare earth elements and phosphorus, on chemical properties of the modified ZSM-5. ► The effect of ZSM-5 modification on the selectivity of products. ► The influence of different factors, such as the ZSM-5 acidity, Si/Al ratio and the temperature, on light olefin production and the reaction scheme. ► The role of incorporated element in the catalytic cracking mechanism.
Steam cracking of hydrocarbons has been the major source of light olefins for more than half a century. The recent studies have reported that ethylene and propylene can also be produced through the cracking of hydrocarbons over modified ZSM-5 zeolites in a considerable amount.
This paper highlights the important current ideas about acid-catalyzed hydrocarbon cracking that has resulted in high yield of ethylene and propylene. Light olefin production via catalytic cracking of various industrial feedstocks, ranging from heavy hydrocarbons to ethane, over modified ZSM-5 zeolites, has been reviewed in the present paper. Furthermore, the influence of various employed promoters, i.e., alkali and alkaline earth, transition, rare earth elements, and phosphorus, on the chemical properties of the modified ZSM-5 and the performance of resulting catalyst in enhancing the selectivity to light olefins, have been addressed. Moreover, the influences of different factors, including the zeolite acidity, Si/Al ratio and the temperature, on the light olefin production and the reaction scheme have been specified. The role of incorporated element in the catalytic cracking mechanism is also summarized.