Abstract
The testing of strongly acidic catalysts for the conversion of a mixture of methanol and isobutanol to ethers and hydrocarbons was continued. Under standardized test conditions the catalysts tested this quarter were: phosphotungstic acid supported on zirconia (PW[sub 12]/ZrO[sub 2]), niobic acid'' (Nb[sub 2]O[sub 5]xH[sub 2]0), and an iron and manganese doped sulfate-modified zirconia (Fe/Mn/ZrO[sub 2]/SO[sub 4][sup [minus]2]). The overall activity of these catalysts followed the order of Fe/Mn/ZrO[sub 2]/SO[sub 4][sup [minus]2] > PW[sub 12]/ZrO[sub 2] > Nb[sub 2]O[sub 5]xH[sub 2]0 with the Fe/Mn/ZrO[sub 2]/SO[sub 4][sup [minus]2] catalyst approaching ZrO[sub 2]/SO[sub 4][sup [minus]2] in both activity and selectivity for isobutene production. The effect of the presence of water on the reaction of methanol and isobutanol over ZrO[sub 2]/SO[sub 4][sup [minus]2] was determined to be insignificant. At 157[degrees]C and a feed of 2/1 molar ratio methanol/isobutanol, the production of isobutene was unaffected by the addition of 0.05and 0.10 parts of water to the 2/1 alcohol feed. Surface areas have been determined for Fe/Mn/ZrO[sub 2]/SO[sub 4][sup [minus]2] niobic acid, and phosphotungstic acid on silica. After calcination, the surface area for Fe/Mn/ZrO[sub 2]/SO[sub 4][sup [minus]2] was found to be 83 M2 /g. Niobic acid and phosphotungstic acid on silica (PW[sub 12]/SiO[sub 2]) weremore » found to have surface areas of 118 and 218 m[sup 2]/g, respectively. [sup 1]H NMR was used to determine if and how much 1-butene was present as a product when isobutanol is dehydrated over sulfate-modified zirconia. It was found to be present in small amounts, [le]3% of the product stream.« less
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