Alkylation of isobutane with 2-butene was performed on metal-exchanged Y zeolites, using an alkylchloride as carbocation initiator. The results indicated that, compared with a protonic zeolite, the deactivation was significantly slower and the production of trimethylpentanes was higher on the metal-exchanged zeolites. The metal cations act as Lewis acids, interacting with the chloride initiating the carbocationic reactions. The results also support the view that protonic sites on the catalyst favor adsorption of the olefin, thus increasing oligomerization rate.
alkylation; zeolite; Br<FONT FACE=Symbol>Æ</FONT>nsted acidity; gasoline
