ALPO4-AL2O3 CATALYSTS WITH LOW ALUMINA-CONTENT .7. ANISOLE CONVERSIONIN THE PRESENCE OF METHANOL

The conversion of anisole in the presence of methanol (anisole/methano l molar ratio = 4) over AlPO4-Al2O3 (5-15 wt.% Al2O3) catalysts gave a mixture of dealkylated and C-alkylated products (C-alkylation prefere ntially in ortho-position) in which dealkylation to phenol always pred ominated. The catalytic activity, which increased with alumina content and decreased on increasing the calcination temperature from 773 to 1 073 K, was fairly well related to the change in surface acidic charact eristics. Furthermore, anisole conversion followed the requirements of the Bassett-Habgood kinetic treatment for first order processes, with a single common interaction mechanism and, consequently, a common tra nsition state for all catalysts. Poisoning by pyridine and 2,6-dimethy lpyridine confirmed that anisole conversion occurs on acid sites.