“…In order to evaluate catalytic activity and establish reaction mechanisms in the cracking of petroleum fractions, model compounds such as C 3 –C 12 paraffins are often tested as feed with ZSM-5, Y and other industrially relevant zeolites [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 33 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. The prevalent model describing alkane cracking over proton zeolites is the Haag-Dessau mechanism which involves the monomolecular protonation of the paraffin on C-H or C-C bonds, by strong Brønsted acid sites, such as those present on ZSM-5 zeolite, forming penta-coordinated carbonium ion intermediates.…”