Reasons for deactivation of unpromoted polymeric catalysts in bisphenol A synthesis

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.