Solid acid catalysts from clays Part 3: benzene alkylation with ethylene catalyzed by aluminum and aluminum gallium pillared bentonites

A montmorillonite pillared with aluminum (APM) or aluminum/gallium polyoxyc ations (AGPM) and their respective repillared derivatives (AP2M and AGP2M) were prepared. The materials were characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, N-2 adsorption-desorption. The surface acidity was evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine and from the analysis of the pro duct distribution of the 1-butene gas phase isomerization. The catalytic ac tivity for the alkylation of benzene with ethylene to produce ethyl benzene was determined and correlated with the samples acidity. The derivatives pi llared with Al12Ga mixed pillars resulted to be the more active catalysts. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.