Ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) synthesis on H-Mordenite: Gas-phase kinetics and DRIFTS studies

The ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) formation between 313 and 363 K over an H-mordenite catalyst was studied in a packed-bed flow catalytic reactor at atmospheric pressure. An activation energy of 82 kJ/mol and reaction orders in isobutene and ethanol of 0.8 and -0.8 were found. In situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to study the state of the catalyst under reaction conditions. The IR studies, coupled with the reaction kinetics information, are consistent with the idea that the stability of the H-mordenite catalyst requires the protective action of ethanol to prevent the occurrence of isobutene oligomerization products. The high ethanol concentrations found in the zeolite pores under the temperature and pressure conditions employed is also responsible for reaction inhibition.