Synthesis of p-tert-butyltoluene with PW/HM as catalysts

The alkylation of toluene with tert-butyl alcohol(TBA) is carried out with phosphotungstic acid supported H-mordenite(PW/HM) as catalyst in a 100 mL stainless steel batch reactor equipped with a stirrer.The physicochemical properties of PW/HM with different PW loadings are characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),ammonia program temperature desorption(NH3-TPD) and thermogravimetric(TG) techniques.Their catalytic performances are investigated for the tert-butylation of toluene.When the PW loading is as high as 25%,PW can be highly dispersed on the surface of HM.The calcination temperature of catalyst is 350℃.The influences of various reaction conditions on 25% PW/HM catalyst are discussed.It is found that,when using 25% PW/HM as catalyst,36.3% conversion of toluene and 82.1% selectivity of p-tert-butyltoluene(PTBT) can be obtained under following optimal conditions: 160℃ of reaction temperature,0.6 MPa of initial pressure,3 of molar ratio of tert-butyl alcohol to toluene,5 of w(reactant)/w(catalyst).