Solid acid catalysts from clays: Part 3: benzene alkylation with ethylene catalyzed by aluminum and aluminum gallium pillared bentonites

Abstract A montmorillonite pillared with aluminum (APM) or aluminum/gallium polyoxycations (AGPM) and their respective repillared derivatives (AP2M and AGP2M) were prepared. The materials were characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, N 2 adsorption–desorption. The surface acidity was evaluated by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine and from the analysis of the product distribution of the 1-butene gas phase isomerization. The catalytic activity for the alkylation of benzene with ethylene to produce ethyl benzene was determined and correlated with the samples acidity. The derivatives pillared with Al 12 Ga mixed pillars resulted to be the more active catalysts.