FT-IR spectroscopic and catalytic study of de-aluminated H-mordenites as environmental friendly catalysts in the hydroxymethylation of 2-methoxyphenol with formaldehyde in aqueous medium

Abstract Several de-aluminated H-mordenites, prepared by treating a commercial H-mordenite (HM-16, Engelhard) with aqueous HCl solutions, were characterized and tested as catalysts in the liquid-phase hydroxymethylation of guaiacol with aqueous solutions of formalin, for the production of p -vanillic alcohol (3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol), the intermediate in vanillin synthesis. Samples were obtained with Si/Al atomic ratios from 10 to 36; their acidic and hydrophilic properties have been characterized by means of FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed probe molecules, namely CO at nominal 77 K, NH 3 and H 2 O at room temperature, and ammonia TPD. De-alumination led to the development of a mesoporous structure, and to a partial structure degradation with the most de-aluminated sample (Si/Al = 36). As to the acidic properties, both Bronsted species in the main channels and in side-pockets were removed, and less acidic hydroxyls formed. The catalytic performance was affected mainly by samples hydrophilicity that considerably decreased upon de-alumination. In the Si/Al ratio range investigated, a decrease in the number of acidic sites led to a complex catalytic behaviour, with a maximum activity for intermediate Si/Al ratio (=25). A higher concentration of aromatic compounds in the pores of more hydrophobic zeolites (higher Si/Al ratios) also led to a higher selectivity towards heavy, di-arylic by-products. A comparison with commercial H-mordenites having similar Si/Al ratio evidenced that the occurrence of mesoporosity, in strongly de-aluminated samples, also affected the catalytic performance, favouring the formation of bulky di-aryl compounds and leading to lower guaiacol conversion.