Platinum-alumina modified SO42−-ZrO2/Al2O3 based bifunctional catalyst for significantly improved n-butane isomerization performance

In this study, sulfated zirconia with loading of platinum (Pt) and platinum alumina (PA-Al 2 O 3 ) promoted sulfated zirconia (SZ) catalysts were synthesized by hydro-thermal route. The samples were characterized by XRD, BET, FT-IR, NH 3 -TPD, and TGA. The catalytic efficiency of all the synthesized catalysts was tested on the isomerization of n -butane. The results indicated that the conversion of n -butane (71.04%), selectivity to i -butane (98.96%), and yield of i -butane (70.30%) is significantly high for PA/SZ sample than that of Pt modified SZ and bare SZ. The results of this study suggest that the SZ modified by Pt/Al 2 O 3 (PA) provided better catalytic performance and higher stability (within 25 h of TOS), when compared with SZ, and Pt-modified SZ.