Abstract
The catalytic behaviors of zeolites with MFI, FAU, BEA,MOR, and MWW topologies and Si/Al ratios between 10 and 19 wereexamined in the toluene alkylation by methyl mercaptan (CH3SH). Overall catalysts, at 375 °C, the reagents have been primarily consumed inalkylation reactions, and only less than 2% of CH3SH led to the formationof light hydrocarbons. Based on extensive experiments, we showed that thecrucial variables affecting the activity, the selectivity, and the deactivationof the catalysts were their pore size/architecture and the amount of theacid sites. ZSM-5 (MFI, Si/Al = 15) outperformed the other zeolites,exhibiting higher selectivity in alkylation and substantially higher resistanceto the deactivation.