Study of Modified Clay and Its Industrial Testing in Aromatic Refining

A novel catalyst was synthesized and used to remove the trace olefins in aromatic hydrocarbons. Laboratory experiments and industrial siding tests indicated that the catalyst could improve the conversion of olefins and prolong the lifetime more than the commercial particulate clay. X-ray diffraction proved that the modification did not change the structure to active clay, N(2) adsorption-desorption showed a decrease in surface area, and pyridine FTIR suggested that the intercalation of metal halides increased the amount of the total acid, especially the weak Lewis acid.