| Abstract: | Superacid catalyst SO42--ZrO2/TiO2 was applied in esterification of Acetic Acid and Butanol. The particle size of ZrO2 in the catalyst was about 12.5 nm. In catalyst preparation conditions, the effect factor order on catalytic activity is H2SO4 concentration ＞ calcination temperature ＞ ZrO2 supported content. The optimum preparation condition is as follows: ZrO2 content 3.5g/g; calcination temperature 600℃, and H2SO4 concentration 0.5mol/L. The catalytic activity is 96.5 vol%.SO42-/MxOy solid superacid is a kind of green catalyst, whose application perspective is bright. In this paper, SO42--ZrO2/TiO2 solid superacid was prepared with nanometer compound carrying method. The acidic strength of catalysts was measured with the following Hammett indicators, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (H0=-14.52) and p-nitrochlorobenzene (H0=-12.70). Catalytic activity was evaluated with esterification reaction of Acetic Acid and Butanol. Reaction temperature was at 105℃, and reaction time was only 1h. The conversion rate of Acetic Acid was analyzed by a gas chromatograph (GC-14C SHIMADZU in Japan)The experimental results showed that H2SO4 concentration had more influences on catalytic activity than other two factors, calcination temperature and ZrO2 supported content. Since sulfur absorbed on the surface of metal oxides is necessary to the acidity of SO42-/MxOy solid superacid,H2SO4 concentration in impregnation solution is needed enough high. But, it can't be too much high,otherwise, Zirconium sulfate formed on the catalyst surface will be harmful influences on catalytic activity. In researched cover, 0.5mol/L H2SO4 concentration is the most suitable, and the catalyst prepared with this concentration has very strong acidity.The optimum preparation condition is as follows: ZrO2 content 3.5g/g; calcination temperature 600℃, and H2SO4 concentration 0.5mol/L. In the catalyst prepared with above conditions, the acidic strength (H0) of the catalyst is smaller than ＜-14.52, and catalytic activity is 96.5 vol%. When it was re-used in esterification reaction, catalytic activity decreased gradually with re-used times increasing(seen in Table 1). But after catalyst is used repeatedly up to five times, catalytic activity (84.3 vol %)is still higher than that of H2SO4 catalyst.The X-ray diffraction patterns showed that ZrO2 supported in TiO2 belonged tetragonal zirconia phases. Through the calculation of Scherrer formula, the particle size of ZrO2 in the catalyst is about 12.5 nm. After SO42- promoted nanometer ZrO2/TiO2 compound carrier, the diffraction peaks of tetragonal zircoma become broader and the strength weaker. It shows that adding SO4 ions restrains the crystallization of ZrO2, diminishes the size of particles. This might be why SO42--ZrO2/TiO2 has high catalytic activity and stability in acidic catalysis reaction. |
