Linear Alkyl Benzene, Research Paper Example

Linear alkyl benzene is commonly used as a surfactant to dilute solutions that can be used when cleaning properties. Its production consists of raw materials such as heterogeneous catalysts, zeolites, and clay.

The application of the heterogeneous catalyst is essential because it automatically replaces the traditional liquid acid (aluminum chloride). Using this catalyst in the production of linear alkyl benzene is important because it has a potential environmental impact as well as the capacity of capital investments. However, its main disadvantage is limited selectivity and the higher possibility of being ruined by impurities.

Other raw materials that can be used when preparing linear alkyl benzene are solid-acid catalysts, which include zeolites and clay. In the application of zeolites, n-octane dehydrogenation is used as a probe for the catalyst during the whole process (De Almeida et al. 1994). The particles used depict high stability against the coking substance even when hydrogen is not used. The advantages of using zeolites include their strong acid strength and the adaptability to merge with all catalysts. However, their main disadvantages include the impossibility of applying their microporosity when synthesizing bulky molecules (Perot & Guisnet 1990).

The use of clay as a raw material in the production of linear alkyl benzene is enhanced by the introduction of the HF catalyst. As a result, the two substances form a strong solution that is later transformed to linear alkyl benzene. The demerit of using this substance is the possibility of thermodynamic equilibrium non-attainment. However, some of the advantages of using this as a catalyst are the possibility of saving costs as well as their supreme aspect of strong strength that enables them merge easily with the catalyst.

References

De Almeida, J. L. G., Dufaux, M., Taarit, Y. B., & Naccache, C. (1994). Linear alkylbenzene. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 71(7), 675-694.

Perot, G., & Guisnet, M. (1990). Advantages and disadvantages of zeolites as catalysts in organic chemistry. Journal of molecular catalysis, 61(2), 173-196.