Role of Morphology of Sulfonic Resin Catalysts in the Etherification of Ethanol with iso-Butylene

What is it about?

The contribution of the morphology of sulfonic resins to their catalytic properties during the esterification of ethanol with isobutylene has been analyzed. It is shown that the influence of morphology is complex, and can be manifested through various factors: the accessibility and energetics of acid sites, adsorption-desorption dynamics of reagents, and mass transfer conditions. It has been established that the effect of morphology on the acidity of sulfonic resin is manifested in the difference in the energies of external and internal acid sites. Regardless of morphology, the stoichiometry of ethanol sorption on sulfonic resins corresponds to 1 molecule per 1 acid site. Occurrence of the volcano-shape temperature dependence of the activity of sulfonic resins for ethanol etherification is due to the thermodynamics of the reaction (high-temperature branch) and mass transfer characteristics of the catalyst (low-temperature branch). Due to various conditions of mass transfer, morphology determines the optimal process temperature and, consequently, the activity of the catalyst.

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Why is it important?

A review of the factors determining the influence of the morphology of sulfonic resins on their catalytic activity in the etherification of alcohols is presented. This generalization can be useful in the development of new efficient catalysts for the synthesis of ethers.