VAPOR-PHASE REACTIONS CATALYZED BY ION EXCHANGE RESINS .I. ISOPROPANOL DEHYDRATION

The dehydration of 2-propanol has been studied using ion exchange resin as catalyst, in a gas-phase flow reactor. The temperature was 90 °, 100 °, and 110 °C and the pressure, atmospheric. The production of both propylene and diisopropyl ether have been measured. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model only fits the data in a limited range of partial pressure of water ( pw pw0 = 0.20). The reactions are zero order with respect to alcohol and strongly inhibited by water. The ether did not react in the presence of alcohol and its influence on the velocity of reaction is negligible. No appreciable effect of the partial pressure of propylene has been observed either. A comparative analysis with inorganic catalysts shows that the reaction mechanism should be the same although the ion exchange resin seems to be more active. The controlling step for both reactions is the surface reaction on two adjacent sites. © 1969.