Hydrocracking of cumene over Ni/Al 2O 3 as influenced by CeO 2 doping and γ-irradiation

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 31 - 37
• Main Authors: El-Shobaky, G.A., Doheim, M.M., Ghozza, A.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2004
• Subjects: CeO 2 doping; Cumene hydrocracking; Ni/Al 2O 3; γ-irradiation; Ni/Al 2O 3; CeO 2 doping; Cumene hydrocracking; γ-irradiation
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/S0969-806X(03)00444-4

Cumene hydrocracking was carried out over pure and doped Ni/Al 2O 3 solids and also, on these solids after exposure to different doses of γ-rays between 0.4 and 1.6 MGy. The dopant concentration was varied between 1 and 4 mol% CeO 2. Pure and doped samples were subjected to heat treatment at 400°C and cumene hydrocracking reaction was carried out using various solids at temperatures between 250°C and 400°C by means of micropulse technique. The results showed that both CeO 2 doping and γ-irradiation of the investigated system brought about an increase in its specific surface area. γ-irradiation of pure samples increased their catalytic activities effectively. However, the doping caused a decrease in the catalytic activity. γ-irradiation of the doped samples brought about a net decrease in the catalytic activity. The catalytic reaction products over different investigated solids were ethylbenzene as a major product together with different amounts of toluene, benzene and C 1–C 3 gaseous hydrocarbons. The selectivity towards the formation of various reaction products varies with the reaction temperature, doping and γ-irradiation.