Multifunctional catalyst
Aldolization, Dehydration and Hydrogenation :
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone
MIBK is a good polar solvent with a moderate evaporation rate. This solvent is primarily used in surface coatings but is also employed in pharmaceuticals, in pesticides or in mining. As a chemical intermediate, MIBK is used in the manufacture of rubber antiozonants, mainly N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N -phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and reacts with acetylene to produce acetylenic diol nonionic surfactant used in inks, paints/coatings, adhesives, dyes/pigments and pesticides.
MIBK is historically produced by a three-step process using acetone and hydrogen as feeds and proceeding via diacetone alcohol and mesityl oxide intermediates.
A different catalyst is employed for each step:
- a base catalyst for aldolization,
- an acidic catalyst for dehydration and
- a selective hydrogenation catalyst for double bond removal.
Afterwards, a single-step process from acetone and hydrogen was commercialized by Veba-Chemie and Deutsche Texaco in Germany. This "one-pot-reaction" is achieved using a multifunctional catalyst. The single-step synthesis of MIBK from acetone offers lower investment and operating costs, and avoids the low conversion of acetone in the first stage and the reversion of mesityl oxide to acetone in the second stage, which are experienced in the three-step process.
Amberlyst™ palladium doped polymeric catalysts containing sulfonic groups are multi-functional. The spherical shape of Amberlyst™ is particularly suitable for multi-tubular reactors where good temperature control can be achieved.
Recommended Catalysts
| Amberlyst™ CH28 | 0.7 wt% Pd, macroporous strongly acidic catalyst. |
For sampling, pricing and availability of AMBERLYST™ catalysts please contact your Rohm and Haas sales representative.
Further Reading
- Durai Muthusamy, Ian Fisher in "Methyl Isobutyl Ketone", Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 2001 by J. Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Veba-Chemie, DE Patent 1,643,044 (1972), US Patent 3,953,517 (1976)
- Deutsche Texaco, US Patent 3,405,178 (1968) and US 3,574,763 (1971)
