Effect of the acid–base properties of Zr,Al-pillared clays on the catalytic performances in the reaction of propylene oxide with methanol

A series of Zr,Al-pillared interlayered clays (Zr,Al-PILCs) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, FT-IR and N2-adsorption/desorption analyses, 27Al NMR(MAS), FT-IR spectroscopy using pyridine, PhCN and CDCl3 as probe molecules. It was found that textural and physicochemical properties of Zr,Al-PILCs depend on Zr content in clay. The relationship between the acid–base properties and catalytic performances of Zr,Al-PILCs was revealed in the synthesis of propylene glycol methyl ether from methanol and propylene oxide. The results show that the conversion of propylene oxide and the selectivity to 1-methoxy-2-propanol decrease with increasing the amount of zirconium in Zr,Al-PILCs due to the change in acid–base properties.

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► Textural and physicochemical properties of Zr,Al-pillared clays depend on the Zr content.
► Zr content affects the activity of Zr,Al-PILCs in the synthesis of propylene glycol methyl ether.
► The Zr content decreases the reaction rate and the selectivity for 1-methoxy-2-propanol.