A search for reason for deactivation of alkylation iron catalyst Original Research Article

Deactivation of the iron catalyst Fe-Si-Cr-K-O was investigated with the help of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and checked in reaction of phenol alkylation with methanol performed in gas phase at the atmospheric pressure. It was indicated that the catalytic action of the alkylation catalyst (active–inactive) could be correlated with the relative contribution of the oxidation states of iron (+2) and (+3). The intensity ratio of the Fe 3p individual components was found to be a good measure of the contribution. The catalyst as-prepared has the (+2)/(+3) ratio 1.7, active in reaction—1.9, calcined at 1000 °C—1.4 and deactivated during the reaction—2.7. The process accompanied other reasons for deactivation as carbon deposition on the surface and/or sintering of catalyst crystallites.