Studying the role of the state of platinum in Pt/SO4/ZrO2/Al2O3 catalysts in the isomerization of n-hexane

Samples of SO4/ZrO2/Al2O3 and Pt/Al2O3 Pt/Al2O3 catalysts and their physical mixtures are prepared, and the catalytic properties of the samples in n-hexane isomerization are studied. The considerable effect of the state of platinum on the catalytic performance of the samples is revealed. IR spectroscopy (COads), oxygen chemisorption, and oxygen-hydrogen titration show that the reduced catalysts contain ionic forms of platinum capable of adsorbing up to three hydrogen atoms per each surface atom of platinum. By means of H/D isotopic exchange, it is found that specific properties of ionic platinum are apparent in the formation of the hydride form of adsorbed hydrogen. It is speculated that the activity and stability of catalysts based on sulfated zirconia in n-hexane isomerization can be attributed to the involvement of ionic and metallic platinum in the activation of hydrogen. The results can be used to develop effective catalysts for the isomerization of C5–C6 gasoline fractions in order to obtain the isomerizate as a high-octane additive for modern gasolines.