Tailoring the preparation of USY zeolite with uniform mesoporosity for improved catalytic activity in phenol/isopropanol alkylation

The preparation of hierarchical USY zeolite, exhibiting uniform mesoporosity and high Si/Al atomic ratio (48–52), has been investigated by means of a surfactant/ammonia post-treatment applied to a commercial USY sample. The procedure involved the use of temperatures within 40–135 °C, a low ammonia concentration solution (0.05 N) and hydrothermal synthesis times of 20 h. When working at 40–80 °C, the obtained USY samples exhibit enhanced intraparticular mesoporosity (324–418 m 2 g −1 ), showing increasingly uniform mesopores around 4.0 nm, while holding a remarkable zeolitic microporosity (413–363 m 2 g −1 ). In contrast, higher temperatures resulted in a steady abatement of crystalline zeolitic domains, with a total collapse of the zeolite structure at 135 °C. These hierarchical USY materials were tested in the alkylation of phenol with isopropanol, wherein one of the obtained products, e.g. 2,6-diisopropylphenol (Propofol), is the most important intravenous anaesthetic in the market. Interestingly, the generation of the uniform mesoporosity in USY samples led to an enhancement of both the phenol conversion and the selectivity towards C-alkylation products. Thus, the sample treated at 60 °C (USY-60) gave rise to the highest selectivity towards C-alkylation products (84 %) and poly-alkylphenols formation (72 %), with an encouraging selectivity towards 2,6-diisopropylphenol (43 %). • Hierarchical USY zeolites with uniform mesoporosity and high Si/Al were prepared. • Mild conditions of the NH 3 /surfactant treatment preserves FAU structure. • Remarkable catalytic performance showed in phenol alkylation with isopropanol. • Uniform mesoporosity promotes C-alkylation and poly-alkylphenols production. • Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) selectivity higher than 40 % is reached.