Efficacy of mesoporous solid catalyst AlMCM-41 in vapour phase reaction of isobutylbenzene with isopropanol

Mesoporous molecular sieves AlMCM-41 of Si/Al ratios (27, 52, 78, and 104) were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by physicochemical techniques viz., XRD, BET, ICP-AES analysis and Al-27-MAS-NMR. The catalytic activity was examined in the Vapour phase isopropylation of isobutylbenzene with isopropanol at 200, 225, 250, and 275 degrees C over the catalysts. The products were found to be 4-isopropylcumene (4-IBC), 3-isopropylcumene (3-IBC), 2-isopropylcumene (2-IBC) and diisopropyl isobutylbenzene (DIIBB). Conversion of isobutylbenzene decreases with increase in temperature. The selectivity to 4-IBC is maximurn at 200 degrees C and decreases with increase in temperature. Isomerisation of 4-IBC to 3-IBC is observed at high temperature. The catalyst AIMCM-41 (Si/Al = 27) showed superior catalytic performance in this reaction. Various parameters viz., temperature, feed ratio, WHSV and time Oil stream were investigated and results are discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.