Abstract
The transalkylation of diisopropylbenzene with naphthalene has been studied over two series of mordenite catalysts dealuminated by acid treatments and by combined calcination at 750°C and acid attack treatments, respectively. The nature and accessibility of the acid sites were studied by IR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine, 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine and 2,4,6-triethylpyridine. The highest yields of 2,6- and 2,7- diisopropylnaphtalenes and the highest stability of catalytic activity were observed over mordenites dealuminated by combined calcination and acid attack treatments. This dealumination procedure leads to the creation of a secondary mesopore network interconnecting structural micropores, which improves the acid sites accessibility, facilitates the transport of bulky reactants and products and prevents deactivation by pore blocking.