Vapor phase ethylation of naphthalene with ethanol over molecular sieve catalysts

Ethylation of naphthalene was carried out in the vapor phase over various m olecular sieve catalysts. Among the catalysts tested, CeMgY (5 wt.% Ce, 3 w t.% Mg) gave the highest yield of mono and diethylnaphthalenes at a reactio n temperature of 250 degrees C and a space velocity of 0.5 h(-1). A correla tion between acidity of the catalyst and the ethylation activity was obtain ed. Ethylation of naphthalene was favorable on Bronsted acidic centers. The HY catalyst was modified with rare earth metal cations such as cerium to e nhance activity for alkylation and Mg+2 to optimize the acidity of the cata lyst. Alkaline earth metal ions, also help in reducing the formation of cok e. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, stepwise temperature programed desorption (STPD) of ammonia, TGA, and nitrogen adsorption to measure the s urface areas. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.