Synthesis, Modification, and Performance Regulation of SAPO-11 Molecular Sieve and Development of n-Alkane Hydroisomerization Catalyst: A Mini-Review

Hydroisomerization catalyst is the key of the hydroisomerization process, which is a bifunctional catalyst composed of acidic support and metal components. In this work, the research progress of hydroisomerization catalysts was reviewed first from two aspects: support and metal components. The supports and metal components used to prepare hydroisomerization catalysts in recent years were introduced, and their advantages/disadvantages were summarized. SAPO-11 molecular sieve is the most commonly used and suitable support for hydroisomerization catalyst. The synthesis methods and influencing factors of SAPO-11 molecular sieves were introduced in detail, and the research progress of modification of SAPO-11 molecular sieves was summarized. Meanwhile, the effects of pore structure, acidity, and crystal size of SAPO-11 molecular sieve on SAPO-11-based hydroisomerization catalyst and their regulation methods were emphatically introduced. Finally, the development direction of n-alkane (carbon number ≤ 16) hydroisomerization catalyst and the synthesis prospect of SAPO-11 molecular sieve were summarized and prospected. This review is helpful to understand the development status of supports and metal components of hydroisomerization catalysts as well as the research status and development prospect of the synthesis of SAPO-11 molecular sieve. The future development direction of the hydroisomerization catalyst and SAPO-11 molecular sieve was summarized and put forward. It is expected to provide a reference for researchers in this field.