Etherification of n-butanol to di-n-butyl ether over HnXW12O40 (XCo2+, B3+, Si4+, and P5+) Keggin heteropolyacid catalysts

Etherification of n-butanol to di-n-butyl ether was carried out over heteroatom-substituted HnXW12O40 (XCo2+, B3+, Si4+, and P5+) Keggin heteropolyacid (HPA) catalysts. Acid properties of HPA catalysts were determined by NH3-TPD measurements. Acid strength of HnXW12O40 Keggin HPA catalysts increased in the order of H6CoW12O40 < H5BW12O40 < H4SiW12O40 < H3PW12O40. Yield for di-n-butyl ether increased with increasing acid strength of the catalysts. Acid strength of HPAs served as an important factor determining the catalytic performance in the etherification of n-butanol to di-n-butyl ether.

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► HnXW12O40 (XCo2+, B3+, Si4+, and P5+) heteropolyacid catalysts were prepared.
► Etherification of n-butanol to di-n-butyl ether was carried out.
► Conversion of n-butanol increased with increasing acid strength of the catalysts.
► Yield for di-n-butyl ether increased with increasing acid strength of the catalysts.