SYNTHESIS OF ZSM-5/MCA-Pr-SO3H COMPOSITE CATALYST FOR ANISOLE ALKYLATION

Abstract

Propylsulfonic acid functionalized cubic Ia-3d mesoporous (MCA) silica was synthesized by using co-condensation method in acidic condition and using triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 as structure directing agent. The gel composition of synthetic mesoporous material was 1 TEOS: 0.089 MPTMS: 0.018 P123: 2.0 HCl: 148 H2O. In addition, ZSM-5 powder was added into Ia-3d mesopore silica gel with different amount of ZSM-5 powder in order to synthesize micro/mesoporous composite material. In the synthesis procedure, amount of ZSM-5 powder in the range of 10-50 wt% based on silica source exhibited the phase transition to composite material. The structure characterization, morphology and acidity of synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption desorption, SEM, TEM and NH3-TPD. The results showed that composite materials exhibited both properties of mesoporous (MCA) and microporous ZSM-5 matters. Propylsulfonic acid functionalized MCA (MCA-Pr-SO3H) was test catalytic activities in anisole alkylation and compared catalytic activities with Amberlyst-15 and other porous catalysts. MCA-Pr-SO3H showed the highest efficient in alkylated product yield than other catalysts. The micro/mesoporous material was tested in anisole alkylation at optimum reaction parameter of MCA-Pr-SO3H. The composite catalyst promoted selectivity of para-alkylated anisole (4-TBA) and increased the yield of tert-butyl anisole products when compared with ZSM-5 catalyst.