Reactions of Phenol with Fraction of Liquid Pyrolysis Product in a Continuously Operated System in the Presence of the Seocar-600 Catalyst

Results of catalytic arylalkylation of phenol using the 130–190°C fraction (LFPP) of pyrocondensate obtained from pyrolysis in the presence of a Seocar-600 zeolite catalyst are presented. The effect of kinetic parameters, including reaction temperature, molar ratio of the initial components, and volume speed, on the yield and selectivity of the target product was evaluated to determine the optimal conditions for the arylalkylation of phenol with LFPP in a continuous-flow system. The reaction temperature was varied in the range 80–140°C, the molar ratio of phenol to LFPP from 1 : 1 to 1 : 4 mol/mol, and the volume speed from 0.2 to 1.0 h–1. Unsaturated hydrocarbons contained in the liquid pyrolysis fractions, including styrene (32.18%), α-methylstyrene (5.98%), vinyltoluene (7.37%), and indene (4.28%), act as arylalkylating agents and react with phenol. Analysis of the liquid fractions after reaction shows a significant decrease in their concentrations: styrene to 3.42%, α-methylstyrene to 0.95%, vinyltoluene to 1.78%, and indene to 2.52%. These results indicate that phenol predominantly reacts with styrene among the unsaturated hydrocarbons during arylalkylation. Optimal process conditions are temperature 120°C, molar ratio of phenol to LFPP 1 : 3 mol/mol, and volume speed 0.5 h–1. Under these conditions, the yield of p-(arylalkyl)phenol is 65.4% based on consumed phenol, and selectivity toward the target product is 91.9%.