Skelton isomerization of n-heptane under the effects of Pt content, particle size and reduction technique

A synthetic approach is developed to produce highly disperse, low loading (0.1wt%, 0.3wt% and 0.6wt%) Pt nanoparticles incorporated montmorillonite (MMT) with average diameter of less than 4.0 nm using economical reduction processes. This was achieved by using formalin followed by chemical reduction with hydrogen to produce Pt nanoparticles incorporated MMT support. The physicochemical characterizations of the Pt nanoparticles incorporated MMT were performed by elemental analysis, FTIR, XRD, N2-adsorption and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the Pt nanoparticles were uniformly distributed throughout the MMT support with Pt loading of less than 4.0 nm and the size of Pt is dependant on its loading. The catalytic activity for heptane isomerization reaction was evaluated over the prepared catalysts. At 0.1-wt% of Pt, the catalyst shows high activity for heptane isomerization, while at high Pt loading shoed high tendency to cracking. The preparation procedure is simple and favorable for a variety of metal nanoparticles syntheses for catalysis applications.