Abstract: AlCl3 catalysts immobilized on mesoporous Al-MCM-41 were prepared by a two step vapor method and their catalytic performance was evaluated for the alkylation of naphthalene with propylene in a slurry bubble column reactor. The physico-chemical properties of the supports and catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, and pyridine adsorption infrared spectroscopy. The halide loadings of the catalysts were analyzed by a chemical method. For the alkylation of naphthalene with propylene over AlCl3/Al-MCM-41, pore diameters that match the molecular dimensions of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene (2,6-DIPN) and an appropriate amount of [–O–AlCl2] in the catalyst are key to controlling activity and selectivity. The AlCl3 catalyst immobilized on mesoporous H/Al-MCM-41 with a Si/Al ratio of 15 exhibited high activity when the alkylation was carried out at 0.1 MPa and 85 oC for 5 h. A naphthalene conversion of 82.1% and a 2,6-DIPN selectiv-ity of 32.2% were obtained.

Key words: naphthalene, alkylation, propylene, immobilization, aluminium chloride, MCM-41, slurry bubble column reactor