Transalkylation of higher methylphenols with phenol to produce cresols and xylenols

The idea behind this research was to add value to such C₉˖-polymethylphenol isomer mixtures by converting them into high value cresols and xylenols via transalkylation with phenol over acid zeolite catalysts. This would comprise recovery of the valuable aromatic (phenolic) OH-groups present in the constituents of the C₉˖-phenolics fraction and also make use of the C₉˖-polymethylphenols as an active-and cheap-reagent for the methylation of the phenol, due to the activation of their aromatic rings by the OH-group. Tanslkylation reactions were carried out in liquid phase at 60 bar in a continuously operated, isothermal, tubular laboratory scale reactor over 6 g of acid zeolite catalyts were screened, H-MFI, H-MOR and H-BEA.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Chemical Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Moeketsi, Kopano

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Fletcher, Jack
• Böhringer, Walter

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5439

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/5439