Liquid-phase synthesis of ethyl tert-butyl ether over acid cation-exchange inorganic–organic resins

In this study the possibility to increase the productivity of acid cation-exchange resin catalysts active sites in ETBE synthesis was elucidated. For this purpose the inorganic–organic sulfonated cation-exchange resins with different polymer loadings (1.5–9.2 wt.%) have been synthesized. Such polymer/carrier composites as well as commercial acidic microporous gel-type ion-exchange resin KU-2-8 and macroporous Amberlyst 15 have been studied in the ETBE synthesis. Acid properties of all solids were determined by quasi-equilibrium thermogravimetry of ammonia desorption. We have found out that polymer loading and acid capacity affect oppositely on the ETBE productivity. As a result, there is no direct correspondence between the ETBE productivity of the inorganic–organic sulfonated cation-exchange resins per gram of catalyst on their acidity. However, there is a linear relation between the productivity per gram of polymeric phase and acidity. It was established that due to a better accessibility of acid sites for reactants loaded sulfonated cation-exchange resins exceeds the commercial catalysts by the site time yield values.

Graphical abstractIn liquid-phase ETBE synthesis inorganic–organic sulfonated cation-exchange resins (1.5–9.2 wt.% of polymer) were studied. It was found that polymer loading and acid capacity affect oppositely on the ETBE productivity. Therefore, there is no direct correspondence between acidity and ETBE productivity per gram of catalyst. However, a linear relation between productivity per gram of polymeric phase and acidity is observed.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide