Catalyst and process for producing liquefied petroleum gas

Abstract

A catalyst for producing a liquefied petroleum gas according to the present invention comprises a Pd- and/or Pt-based catalyst component and a USY-type zeolite. By using the catalyst, a hydrocarbon containing propane or butane as a main component, i.e. a liquefied petroleum gas, can be produced with high activity, high selectivity and high yield from at least one of methanol and dimethyl ether.

1 . A catalyst for producing a liquefied petroleum gas, which is used for producing a liquefied petroleum gas containing propane or butane as a main component by reacting at least one selected from the group consisting of methanol and dimethyl ether with hydrogen, comprising
 a Pd- and/or Pt-based catalyst component in which Pd and/or Pt is supported on a support; and   a USY-type zeolite.   
     
     
         2 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio (by weight) of the Pd- and/or Pt-based catalyst component to the USY-type zeolite is 0.1 to 1.5 (Pd- and/or Pt-based catalyst component/USY-type zeolite). 
     
     
         3 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of supported Pd and/or Pt in the Pd- and/or Pt-based catalyst component is 0.1 to 5% by weight. 
     
     
         4 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the support for the Pd- and/or Pt-based catalyst component is silica. 
     
     
         5 . A catalyst according to  claim 4 , wherein a specific surface area of the silica support for the Pd- and/or Pt-based catalyst component is 450 m 2 /g or more. 
     
     
         6 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the USY-type zeolite has a SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3  ratio of 5 to 50.