SOLID ACID CATALYSTS FROM CLAYS - ACID LEACHED METAKAOLIN AS ISOPROPANOL DEHYDRATION AND 1-BUTENE ISOMERIZATION CATALYST

Some samples of acid leached kaolin were prepared by calcination of th e natural clay at 873 K to obtain metakaolin followed by treatment at 353 K for 4 h with HCl or H2SO4 solutions of various concentrations. S ome samples were washed with distilled water after the treatment. The modified clays were studied by chemical analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and X-ray diffraction. The nature and strength of the acid sites was evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine. All samples were tested as catalyst for the 1-butene isomerization and isopropanol dehydration. The sulfuric acid treated and washed MKH2SO4 1 Mw sample resulted in a very active isopropanol dehydration catalys t. The MKH2SO4 1 Mw sample and the two unwashed HCl treated samples MK HCl 2 M and MKHCl 6 M were found very active in the conversion of 1-bu tene to iso-products, which requires strong Bronsted acid sites. The w ell known K10 catalyst is less active in both reactions and the MKH2SO 2 1 Mw catalyst could be proposed as its suitable substitute.