Tert-butylation of Toluene with Tert-butyl Alcohol over Realuminated H-mordenite Zeolite

The realuminated H-mordenite catalysts (HM1-4) treated with different concentrations of NaOH and NaAlO2 aqueous solutions were prepared, and characterized by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia, They are of lower Si/Al ratio and higher acid amount while keeping a high relative crystallinity. Their catalytic performances were evaluated with the liquid-phase tert-butylation of toluene with tert-butyl alcohol in a 100 ml stainless steel batch reactor equipped with a stirrer. HM2 zeolite catalyst, obtained by treating HM in 0.1 mol·L−1 NaOH followed by 0.05 mol·L−1 NaAlO2 aqueous solution, shows a higher catalytic activity because of its highest acid amount. For HM2 catalyst the influences of reaction conditions on catalytic performance were investigated. The conversion of toluene is 50.3% and the selectivity of p-tert-butyltoluene is 74.7% at a temperature of 180°C, 2 of molar ratio of tert-butyl alcohol to toluene, 4h of reaction time and 0.2 of M(catalyst)/M(toluene).