The hydroisomerization reaction of long chain n-alkanes is an important industrial process. Despite being widely studied, the fundamental understanding of the effect of synthesis and post-synthesis procedures on the final structure and physico-chemical properties of bifunctional catalysts and, in turn, on their activity and selectivity is limited.

This project is aimed to study the mutual interaction between metal and acid functions of bifunctional catalysts and describing the effect of catalyst synthesis procedures on this interaction and on the catalyst activity and selectivity. A series of mono- and bimetallic catalysts supported on two 10-ring zeolite / zeotype structures having different acido-basic properties with varying metal-to-acid-site ratios will be synthesized. The catalysts will be characterized by a range of physico-chemical methods. The behavior of the bifunctional catalysts will be tested in dodecane hydroisomerization.

The obtained results will significantly contribute to the design of the „ideal bifunctional catalyst“.