Esterification of phthalic anhydride with 2-ethylhexanol by solid superacidic catalysts

Abstract

Heterogeneous superacidic solid catalysts have proved to be very effective from the viewpoint of activity, selectivity, reusability and economy in the preparation of various important chemicals which pose a number of difficulties with homogeneous catalysts. This paper delineates efficacy of several solid superacidic catalysts in the preparation of the industrially important plasticizer, dioctyl phthalate (DOP ), from 2-ethylhexanol and phthalic anhydride. This study also throws light on the preparation of super-acidic catalysts, wherein the thermal treatment step is important in order to have good activity for the catalyst. A complete kinetic study with sulphated zirconia is also presented. In case of supported heteropoly acids the support was found to play an important role in defining the final activity of the catalyst.