Investigations on 1-methyl naphthalene to (alkyl) benzene over surface modified USY zeolite

Upgrading of light cycle oil (LCO) should be promising, due to the increasing demand for diesel fuel, for incorporation into the diesel pool with the increased cetane number. Alumina coated zeolite as a catalyst, together with model compound (1-methyl naphthalene, 1-MN) were investigated for ring opening reactivity. Ring opening of tetralin species over g-alumina and surface modified USY zeolite supported NiMo catalysts was investigated with 1-methyl naphthalene (1-MN) as a model compound. The catalysts were characterized by N₂-adsorption, XRD, XPS, pyridine FT-IR, and HRTEM. The highest (alkyl) benzene yields were represented by coating with the lowest alumina amount (NMACZ-2, nearly 80% yields). A large amount of decalin species were produced, possibly due to the weak acid character of NMA. The hydrocracking reactivity of 1-methyl naphthalene may be attributed to the morphologies of the catalysts such as the different MoS₂ sturucture and acidic characteristics.