Quantitative speciation of sulfonic groups and compositional analysis of ge
l-type cation-exchange resins used as unpromoted catalysts in bisphenol A s
ynthesis, deactivated at the commercial plant, were carried out. It was pro
ved that building-in the polyphenol-type: high-molecular-weight compounds,
formed inside the catalyst grains, into the catalyst polymeric matrix is th
e basic reason fur deactivation of the catalyst. It was found that the rate
of formation of these polyphenols is only to a small degree dependent on t
he concentration of bisphenol A synthesis by-products in the reaction mixtu
re circulated through the fixed catalyst bed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V
. All rights reserved.