Synthesis of RUB-13 zeolite and its catalytic performance in the conversion of methanol to olefins

RUB-13 zeolites were synthesized by hydrothermal method. The effect of organic structure-directing agent (OSDA), silica source, crystallization temperature and Si/H₂O ratio on the crystal structure was investigated and the catalytic performance of H-RUB-13 in the conversion of methanol to olefins (MTO) was evaluated. The results indicate that with 1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethylpiperidine (PMP) as OSDA and fumed silica as silica source, pure and highly crystalline RUB-13 zeolites with a Si/Al ratio of 100 or 200 can be successfully synthesized by crystallization at 170 ℃, with a H₂O/Si ratio of 100 or 80 in the synthesis gel, respectively. The crystals of the synthesized RUB-13 zeolites display a thin rod-like morphology. As a catalyst in MTO, the high-silica H-Al-B-RUB-13 (Si/Al=200) zeolite exhibits unprecedentedly high selectivity to light olefins at 400 ℃ (54.5% to propene and 97.8% to C_2-5⁼), much better than the traditional H-SAPO-34 and H-ZSM-5 zeolites under similar conditions.