SIDE-CHAIN ALKYLATION OF TOLUENE WITH METHANOL OVER DUAL CATALYSTS COMPRISING X-ZEOLITES AND FE-MO OXIDE

The activities of various dual catalyst systems consisting of Na-X, Cs -X and Cs-B-X along with Fe-Mo oxide catalyst have been investigated t owards side-chain alkylation reactions of toluene with methanol at atm ospheric pressure in a fixed-bed reactor, Among these Cs-X/Fe-Mo dual catalyst showed the highest activity and selectivity leading to a maxi mum toluene conversion of 33.1% acid a styrene-to-ethylbenzene mole ra tio of 10 : 1 under optimum reaction conditions such as at 425 degrees and toluene-to-methanol mole ratio of 1 : 5. The activities of all th e single zeolites were improved by utilising Fe-Mo oxide in the dual c atalyst systems.