Regulating the acid sites and framework aluminum siting in MCM–22 zeolite to enhance its performance in alkylation of benzene with methanol

As a typical reaction process catalyzed by acid sites, the alkylation of benzene with methanol significantly depends on the distribution of acid sites in zeolite. Herein, an MCM-22 zeolite with regulated acid sites and framework aluminum (AlF) siting was successfully synthesized by the insertion of boron. Proper boron incorporation can bring to a concentration of the Brønsted acid sites (BSites) in the 10–membered ring (10MR) sinusoidal channels, which provide a good shape-selective space for alkylation of benzene with methanol. Meanwhile, the decrease in BSites in the supercages and external pockets leads to an alleviation of the coking process and formation of ethylbenzene, enhancing the catalytic life and capacity of containing deposits.