The influence of the acid strength of zeolites upon gas-phase formatio
n of MTBE from methanol and isobutene was studied detached from other
parameters such as structure, framework composition, and site density.
A series of partially ion-exchanged HY zeolites which had been ion-ex
changed to the same extent by Li, Na, and Rb was used, yielding materi
als with similar concentrations of protons but different acid strength
s. All zeolites exhibited similar initial activities for the formation
of MTBE at temperatures below 100-degrees-C, although for other acid-
catalyzed reactions such as 1-butene isomerization an increase in the
activities with increasing acid strength of the zeolites had been prev
iously observed. Steady-state activities, however, were found to be st
rongly influenced by the different deactivation behavior of the invest
igated samples. For the partially Rb-exchanged sample, blockage of por
es (probably by isobutene oligomers) caused an expressed decrease in r
ate of reaction during the first 30 min on stream. The presence of exc
ess methanol in the pores is regarded as a possible cause for the simi
larity of the initial reaction rates. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.