Abstract
Converting ethylene to propylene (ETP) at low temperature, without adding other hydrocarbons, is a great challenge today. In this study we explored an ETP process based on cascade reactions, operated in 1-pot mode over two catalysts. Using a single flow reactor, under identical conditions (T and P), ethylene has been partially transformed over Ni-AlKIT-6 into 2-butene, which then reacted with the unconverted ethylene over ReOx/Al2O3 to obtain propylene. The effect of Re loading (4-12%), reaction temperature (60-120 °C) and pressure (0.1-3 MPa) on the ETP process has been examined. The nature of the catalytic sites and their stability against deactivation have also been studied. Additionally, we explored for the first time the selective dimerization of the ethylene over Ni-AlKIT-6 at low temperature.