PURPOSE: To carry out isomerization and dehydrogenation of dimethyltetralin in high selectivity and efficiency, suppressing side reactions, by using a catalyst produced by supporting a metal on a Y-type zeolite carrier using ion-exchange method or impregnation method and treating the product with an alkali.
CONSTITUTION: Metals, preferably one or more transition metals such as Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cu, etc., are supported on a Y-type zeolite by ion-exchange method or impregnation method and the product is treated with an alkali to obtain the objective catalyst. The catalyst may further contain supported Pt, Pd, etc. The objective isomer, especially 2,6-dimethyltetralin (DMT) having high industrial addition value as a ray material for polyesters can be produced in high yield, suppressing side reactions such as demethylation reaction, disproportionation reaction, etc., by isomerizing and dehydrogenation DMT in the presence of the above catalyst. The DMT used as a raw material is preferably produced by hydrogenating a fraction containing dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) at a concentration below the thermodynamic equilibrium concentration.
SUZUKI MINORU
MAEDA KAZUHIKO
SAITO YASUKAZU
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