Vapor-phase tert-butylation of p-hydroxytoluene over Al-MCM-41 and PWA supported Al-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve catalysts

Mesoporous Al-MCM-41 and PWA, impregnated with different weight percent catalysts have been prepared and investigated by combining structural and textural properties of both the catalysts. The catalytic behavior of both the Al-MCM-41 and PWA impregnated catalysts were evaluated for tert-butylation of p-hydroxy toluene. Among the series of catalysts, 20 wt% PWA impregnated catalyst was found to have superior activity for the alkylation of p-hydroxytoluene. The activity was increased with more PWA content upto 20 wt%. This implied that the PWA loaded Al-MCM-41catalysts had enhanced acid strength, thereby increasing the Bronsted acid sites for the tertiarybutylation of p-hydroxytoluene. Various parameters viz. feed rate, temperature, feed ratio of p-HT and MTBE, Time on stream and WHSV were optimized for the reaction.