Halogen-promoted Pt/KL Zeolite Catalyst for the Production of Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Light Naphtha

Modification by a halogen containing compound made the Pt/KL zeolite catalyst more active and selective than the original Pt/KL zeolite in the aromatization of C 6 and C 7 fractions in naphtha. Furthermore, the catalyst life of the halogen-modified Pt/KL (Pt/FKL) was much longer than that of Pt/KL due to less carbon formation rate. These features led Pt/FKL to industrial applications. TEM, H 2 adsorption, and NH 3 -TPD measurements revealed that the treatment of Pt/KL with halogen produces well dispersed Pt without changing the acidic property of the catalyst. The Pt/FKL catalyst has been commercialized as Aromax ® II catalyst; it was loaded into several Aromax ® process units in Saudi Arabia, USA, and Spain.