Kinetic studies on the tert-butylation of toluene over H-BEA zeolite

摘要

The highly selective synthesis of 4-tert-butyltoluene from toluene with tert-butyl alcohol over zeolite catalysts was performed in the liquid phase. The order of activity for alkylation over zeolite catalysts was as follows: H-BEA > H-Y > H-MOR > H-ZSM-5. The main reaction products observed were 4-tert-butyltoluene and 3-tert-butyltoluene. 2-tert-Butyltoluene was completely absent in the product. A kinetic study of the reaction of toluene with tert-butyl alcohol over pure H-BEA (Si/Al = 25) was performed. Experimental runs were conducted at 160, 170, 180 and 190 degrees C and reaction times of up to 240 min. Based on the results obtained, a simplified kinetic model was developed. The kinetics could be described by the pseudo first-order model.