Catalytic cracking of alkanes on MCM-22 zeolite. Comparison with ZSM-5 and beta zeolite and its possibility as an FCC cracking additive

N-heptane cracking has been carried out on MCM-22, and its kinetic and decay behaviour is compared with that of ZSM-5 and Beta zeolites. In the case of MCM-22 cracking occurs in the 10-member ring channel system, as well as in the large cavities formed by 12-member rings. Product selectivities show that MCM-22, while presenting features which indicate structural similarities with ZSM-5, it also presents characteristics corresponding to pores or cavities larger than ZSM-5. The selectivities to the individual products together with C1 + C2/iC4, C3/C4, C5/C2, iC4/total C4, and alkane/alkene ratios indicate that MCM-22 has good properties to be used as an FCC octane booster additive specially valuable for the production of reformulated gasolines.