Selective synthesis of cumene from benzene and acetone: Design of tandem catalyst with hydrogenating and alkylating functions

Abstract

Benzene hydroalkylation with acetone has been studied over tandem catalytic systems containing copper and zeolite components. The kinetic study in the wide range of acetone conversions allowed to determine the main reaction pathways leading to the target hydroalkylation products, cumene and diisopropylbenzenes, and to the by-products of acetone condensation. To prevent the side reaction pathways and to achieve high selectively towards target products, three strategies for assembling metal and zeolite components in the catalytic system were used: i) metal encapsulation in zeolite pores; ii) mortar mixing of copper supported on silica with zeolite component; iii) dual-bed layered arrangement of Cu/SiO2 and zeolite components. The best catalytic performance was achieved over dual-bed layered catalytic system, containing Cu/SiO2 in the upper layer and zeolite BEA in the bottom layer, which showed the highest yield of hydroalkylation products (93wt%) and stable catalyst operation.