Production of camphene and limonene from pinene over acid di- and trioctahedral smectite clays

Abstract The conversion of alpha-pinene (α-pinene) to camphene and limonene catalyzed by acid clays (dioctahedral and trioctahedral) was studied in a batch reactor. Conversions of about 50% were obtained after 1 h reaction at 373 K. Selectivities in camphene and limonene and their derivatives between 52.6–54.5% and 37.6–44.6%, respectively, were attained using smectites treated with acid as catalysts. The catalytic activity of smectites for the alpha pinene conversion was correlated with the structural and textural characteristics, and the total acidity of the clays.