Preparation of Styrenated Phenol by Alkylation of Phenol with Styrene Over SO42-/ZrO2 Catalyst

Styrenated phenols are usually synthesized by the reaction of styrene and phenol under acid catalysts. Styrenated phenol involving high content of di-styrenated phenol (DSP) was synthesized, which can be used to prepare styrenated phenol alkoxylate. The solid catalyst used in this study was prepared by impregnation method. SO42- on SO42- / ZrO2 catalyst was introduced from an aqueous 1M-H2SO4 solution. The catalysts were characterized by SEM images, XRD patterns, and FT-IR spectra. The catalytic activity was examined by measuring the conversion of phenol and styrene in a liquid-phase batch reactor. Almost 100% conversion of both phenol and styrene over 15-SO42- / ZrO2 catalyst were obtained at reaction temperature of 100 degrees C and reaction time of 6 hr. Amount of catalyst to the reactants was 15 wt%. At same reaction conditions, selectivity of MSP, DSP, and TSP were 23.6%, 52.1%, and 5.4%, respectively. It was known that the selectivity to DSP was increased as IR absorption peak of 1236 cm(-1) corresponding to O-S-O bonds was increased.