THE ACID CATALYZED REACTION OF alpha-PINENE OVER Upsilon-ZEOLITE

The hydration of alpha-pinene has been studied in the presence of Y-zeolite (Si/Al = 2.89) as a solid acid catalyst. The reaction was performed in batch reactor in isopropyl alcohol at various temperature and reaction time with magnetic stirrer. The acid catalyst hydration reaction of alpha-pinene yields a complex mixture of monoterpenes, alcohols and hydrocarbons. The selectivity of alpha-terpineol (the monocyclic alcohol) as main product was 59.20% with a conversion of 83.83% and the non alcoholic as the isomerization co-product as 30% after 60 min at 65 degrees C. The conversion and selectivity to alpha-terpineol increase significantly with in increase in temperature and reaction times.