Preparation of 2-Methylnaphthalene from 1-Methylnaphthalene via Catalytic Isomerization and Crystallization

• Published in: Bulletin of chemical reaction engineering & catalysis Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 512 - 519
• Main Authors: Sun, Hao, Sun, Kang, Jiang, Jianchun, Gu, Zhenggui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Semarang Department of Chemical Engineering, Diponegoro University 01.12.2018; Masyarakat Katalis Indonesia - Indonesian Catalyst Society (MKICS)
• Subjects: 1-methylnaphthalene, isomerization; 2-methylnaphthalene; Catalysis; Crystallization; Deactivation; Feasibility studies; Isomerization; modified zeolite; Naphthalene; Reaction products; Selectivity; Zeolites
• ISSN: 1978-2993; 1978-2993
• DOI: 10.9767/bcrec.13.3.2650.512-519

Large amounts of residual 1-methylnaphthalene are generated when 2-methylnaphthalene is extracted from alkyl naphthalene. In order to transform waste into assets, this study proposes a feasible process for preparing 2-methylnaphthalene from 1-methylnaphthalene through isomerization and crystallization. The 1-methylnaphthalene isomerization was carried out in a fixed-bed reactor over mixed acids-treated HBEA zeolite. The results showed that acidic properties of catalysts and reaction temperature were associated with the 2-methylnaphthalene selectivity, yield and catalytic stability. At a high reaction temperature of 623 K, the 2-methylnaphthalene yield was 65.84 %, and the deactivation rate was much lower. The separation of reaction products was then investigated by two consecutive crystallization processes. Under optimal conditions, the 2-methylnaphthalene purity attained 96.67 % in the product, while the yield was 87.48 % in the refining process.