Gas-phase hydration of ethene over Me(HPO4)2·nH2O (Me=Ge, Zr, Ti, and Sn) Original Research Article

Gas-phase hydration of ethene was carried out over Me(HPO4)2·nH2O (Me = Ge, Zr, Ti, and Sn) catalysts at atmospheric pressure. It was found that the catalysts prepared from Sn(HPO4)2·2H2O were highly active and selective for the title reaction. The activity of Sn(HPO4)2·2H2O was varied by the concentration of H3PO4 in the preparation of the catalysts. Decreased concentration of H3PO4 led to increased surface area of the catalysts. The catalyst prepared in an aqueous solution of 3.9 mol/dm3 H3PO4 exhibited best performance among the catalysts studied in the hydration of ethene. The activity of the catalyst was over 20 times that of a commercial H3PO4/SiO2 catalyst. Involvement of surface HPO4 in the reaction was suggested.