• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.895-901
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• 1999

The acid characteristics of ${\beta}$-zeolites was modified by the different calcination conditions in order to remove template and the post-treatments such as ammonium ion exchange and HCl treatment. Alkylation of benzene with propene and isopropanol was carried out over the catalysts to investigate the effect of acid characteristics on the selectivity to cumene in this reaction. The $Br{\ddot{o}}nsted$ acidity(IR $3610cm^{-1}$ band) of ${\beta}$-zeolite was significantly reduced by a deep bed calcination compared to that of ${\beta}$-zeolite calcined in a shallow bed. Moreover, extraframework aluminum species which did not show acidity were produced by the framework dealumination on the deep bed calcined ${\beta}$-zeolite. $Br{\ddot{o}}nsted$ acidity of deep bed calcined ${\beta}$-zeolite was significantly recovered by ammonium ion exchange, however, it was partially recovered by a weak HCl treatment. It was found that the framework aluminum as well as the extraframework aluminum were extracted by a strong HCl treatment. The selectivity to cumene was shown to be about 95% on the shallow bed calcined ${\beta}$-zeolite, however, it decreased to 90% on the deep bed calcined one. The post-treatment such as ammonium exchange and weak HCl treatment enhanced the selectivity to cumene up to 93% by the partial recovery of $Br{\ddot{o}}nsted$ acidity. Propene was proved to be a good alkylating agent for the selectivity to cumene compared to isopropanol.