Aluminum-grafted MCM-41 molecular sieve: an active catalyst for bisphenol F synthesis process Original Research Article

Liquid-phase bisphenol F synthesis from phenol and formaldehyde condensation reaction in the presence of water has been investigated over mesoporous Al:MCM-41 catalysts, with different Si/Al ratios, prepared by a post-synthesis grafting method. The catalysts have been characterized for their phase purity, surface area, average pore diameter and acidity. Introduction of Al into the framework of MCM-41 increased the acidity; however, the increase in the acidity only up to a certain level increased the acid-catalyzed phenol and formaldehyde condensation activity. Among the different Al-grafted MCM-41 molecular sieves (having Si/Al ratios from 15 to 200 mol mol−1), Al:MCM-41 having a Si/Al ratio of 70 mol mol−1 shows the best catalytic performance in the bisphenol F synthesis process.