Kinetic study for oligomerization of acetaldehyde over cation exchange resin

Abstract

Several industrially important liquid phase reactions which involve acetaldehyde as the main reactant are practised in the presence of acidic catalyst. However, under these conditions, acetaldehyde also undergoes oligomerization via self-aldol condensation reactions to form multiple side products thereby reducing the selectivity of the desired product. In this work, we investigate the detailed kinetics of oligomerization over a commonly used commercial cation exchange resin, Amberlyst-15 as catalyst. It is found that, crotonaldehyde and subsequent heavy aldols are formed in the reaction. Molecular weight distribution of the oligomers formed during the reaction is verified with Flory’s statistical method. Kinetic studies are performed in an autoclave over a temperature range of 343−363 K. The effect of different parameters such as temperature, concentration, catalyst loading, and catalyst reusability is examined. A kinetic model based on Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) rate expression is proposed to explain acetaldehyde oligomerization in the presence of acidic resin.