Resumen
Synthesis of MTBE on dealuminated and leaching Beta zeolites is provided. Hydrothermal and chemical dealumination of HBeta zeolite leads to less active catalysts due to a decrease in the total concentration of Brönsted acid sites. Furthermore, it has been verified that elimination of highly dispersed non-framework alumina species present in HBeta samples, by acid treatment, decreases catalytic activity, even though the zeolite has shown a higher content of Brönsted acid sites. It might be suggested that highly dispersed cationic non-framework aluminum species could interact with framework hydroxyls, generating Brönsted acid sites with enhanced catalytic activity. Thus, zeolite HBeta showed a maximum MTBE yield at 70oC, superior to the commercial catalyst (resin Amberlyst 15) and to other zeolites studied, within the context of reaction conditions utilized