Application of the monophase Zr-Mg-Y oxide system as catalyst for gas-phase phenol methylation

The investigation presented attempts to apply the Zr-Mg-Y oxide system as a catalyst for phenol alkylation with methanol by a gas-phase reaction. The studies were carried out in a continuous process performed at atmospheric pressure. It was indicated that the catalyst obtained is active and ortho-selective in the methylation of phenol. At 370°C, in the presence of Zr-Mg-Y oxide catalyst under the experimental conditions studied, an interesting yield of ortho-cresol (over 46% with 66.5% selectivity) was attained. Zr-Mg-Y-O catalyst was prepared by low temperature method and it was characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning microscopy and nitrogen physisorption. In addition, in this reaction the catalytic specificity of Zr-Mg-O, ZrO₂, MgO and Y₂O₃ was examined.