Synthesis of USY/MCM-41 composite and catalytic performance in liquid-phase hydrogenation of benzene

USY/MCM-41 composites with the different USY and MCM-41 ratio were synthesized by overgrowth of MCM-41 on USY surface, and characterized by a variety of techniques including XRD, nitrogen adsorption measurements, SEM, TEM, Pyridine-IR and catalytic hydrogenation. The results showed that the USY crystals were coated with a layer of MCM-41 in the composite materials with a bimodal meso-and micropore pore size distribution, in which there were more Bronsted and Lewis acid sites than the mechanical mixtures with same USY and MCM-41 ratio. The USY/MCM-41 composite supported Ru catalysts in liquid-phase benzene hydrogenation showed a higher catalytic activity compared to the either pure USY or pure MCM-41 supported Ru catalysts.