Conversion of 1-hexanol to di-n-hexyl ether on acidic catalysts Original Research Article

Conversion, selectivity and yield of 1-hexanol liquid phase dehydration to di-n-hexyl ether (DNHE) were determined at 150–190 °C on three acidic catalysts, the thermally stable resin Amberlyst 70, the perfluoroalkanesulfonic Nafion NR50 and the zeolite H-BEA-25, in a batch reactor. The highest conversion and yield were achieved on Amberlyst 70 at 190 °C, but the most selective catalyst was Nafion NR50. Good results were obtained at 190 °C on the zeolite. Apparent activation energies for the three catalysts were in the range 108–140 kJ/mol. Unlike H-BEA-25, the reaction of DNHE synthesis on Amberlyst 70 and NR50 was a bit more active but less selective than the analogous 1-pentanol dehydration to di-n-pentyl ether (DNPE).