Heterogeneous liquid-phase hydration of isobutene by heteropoly acid–polymer composite film catalyst

Abstract

H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀-polymer composite film catalysts were prepared by blending these two materials using a methanol–chloroform mixture by a membrane preparation technique. Polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyethersulfone (PES) and polysulfone (PSF) were used as blending polymers. A H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀-PPO composite catalyst coated on Al₂O₃ was also prepared. These catalysts were used as heterogeneous catalysts for the liquid-phase tert-butanol (TBA) synthesis from isobutene and water. It was found that all the composite film catalysts showed higher catalytic activities than homogeneous H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ in the TBA synthesis. Among the composite film catalysts, H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀-PPO showed the best catalytic performance. Not only high absorption capability of H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀-PPO for isobutene but also stability of H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀-PPO in the reaction medium was responsible for such a catalytic performance. The H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀-PPO/Al₂O₃ also showed a higher activity than a homogeneous solution of H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀.