DEACTIVATION OF ION-EXCHANGE RESIN CATALYSTS .1. ALKYLATION OF O-XYLENE WITH STYRENE

The alkylation reaction of o-xylene with styrene was studied by using various cation-exchange resin catalysts. Amber-lyst-15 catalyst was fo und to deactivate on repeated use. This deactivation was studied from the viewpoint of pore structural alterations. The pore structure data of the virgin and deactivated catalyst were analysed by using various techniques such as mercury porosimetry, BET surface area and SEM. The cause and mode of deactivation were investigated by carrying out serie s of experiments by altering different reaction parameters such as tem perature, mole ratio, mode of addition of styrene, divinylbenzene cont ent of the resin, etc. The results focus on the limitations of the ion -exchange resin catalysts, especially with reactants that can form pol ymeric chains with the matrix.