Effect of phosphorus on the performance of IM-5 for the alkylation of toluene with methanol into p-xylene

IM-5 zeolite was modified with different amounts of phosphorus species. The effect of the introduction of phosphorus into IM-5 zeolite (P-IM-5) was evaluated on the alkylation of toluene with methanol. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, N2 physical adsorption, 31P magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia, Fourier transform infrared spectra of pyridine, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-pyridine and 2,6-lutidine adsorption, and thermogravimetric analysis after reaction. The results showed that the zeolite structure was not changed, but the total amount of acid sites decreased with increasing phosphorus loading. The phosphorus-modified IM-5 samples exhibited much higher stability on the alkylation of toluene with methanol than the parent zeolite and the optimal phosphorus amount added was 0.5 wt %. The excellent catalytic performance could be ascribed to the low ratio of B/L acid sites upon phosphorus modification, which suppressed coke formation.