DRIFT Studies for the Reaction and Adsorption of Alcohols and Isobutylene on Acidic Resin Catalysts and the Mechanism of ETBE and MTBE Synthesis

Abstract

Diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectra of methanol and ethanol on Amberlyst 15 and on a synthesized acidic resin catalyst indicate that alcohol molecules are adsorbed by forming hydrogen bridges with the −SO 3 H sites of the catalyst and among themselves. Some of the alcohol molecules were found to be strongly chemisorbed by dissociation of one or two hydrogen atoms. Isobutylene was also found to be strongly adsorbed by forming a bridged structure between the adsorbed alcohol molecules and the −SO 3 H groups. DRIFT spectra verified the presence of adsorbed ether molecules formed as a result of surface reaction and supported a Langmuir−Hinshelwood-type reaction mechanism.