Kinetics of 2‐Propanol Dehydration over Montmorillonite Clays and Pillared Montmorillonites

Metal ion exchanged montmorillonites (AlM & CrM) and metal oxide pillared montmorillonite (AlPM & CrPM) were prepared and characterized with XRD, FT‐IR, nitrogen adsorption and TPD of ammonia. The pillaring process results in a remarkable increase of interlayer distance, surface area and acid amount of the catalyst. However, increasing the calcined temperature causes reverse effects for the CrPM catalyst. The acid amount decreases in the order of CrPM200 < CrPM300 < AlPM500 < CrM < CrPM400 ≥ CrPM500 ≥ AlM. In the dehydration of 2‐propanol to propene, the reaction follows first order kinetics and the apparent rate constant is related to the catalyst acid amount. Compensation effect occurs in this reaction over the series of catalysts.