Kinetics of phenol alkylation with tert -butyl alcohol using supported ionic liquid catalyst

Sulphonic acid functional ionic liquid was prepared by covalently bonded with mesoporous silica material (SBA15). The physical structure, composition and functional groups were characterised. The prepared catalyst activity was investicated in tert -butylation of phenol with tert -butyl alcohol (TBA) was using a batch autoclave reactor. The different parameters like reaction time, reaction temperature, catalyst amount and reactant mole ratio on the conversion of phenol and selectivity towards 2 -tert -butyl phenol (4-TBP), 4 -tert -butyl phenol (2-TBP) and 2,4-di -tert -butyl phenol (2,4-DTBP) was studied. Maximum phenol conversion of 72% was obtained at Lower tert -butanol to phenol mole ratios and lower catalyst loading. The activation energy was found to be 4.2 kcal/mol with second order rate equation from the experimental data.