Benzylation of benzene over sulfated zirconia supported in MCM-41 using a single source precursor

An array of highly active, thermally stable solid acid catalysts is reported by loading different weight fractions of sulfated zirconia on mesoporous MCM-41. Different weight fractions were used to optimize the sulfated zirconia content for active and selective catalysts in alkylation of benzene with benzyl ether. The supported catalysts were prepared by impregnation of an aqueous solution of the zirconium acetate sulfonate single-source precursor into the mesoporous support. The catalytic activity of the catalysts was stable with time on stream for all catalysts examined under the reaction conditions employed. The benzene to benzyl ether mole ratio was varied from 0.1 : 1 to 20 : 1. Benzyl ether conversion was found to increase with reaction temperature and catalyst loading, while diphenyl methane selectivity was observed to increase with increasing feed mole ratio. The used regenerated catalysts completely retained its activity after the first and second regeneration.