Facilitating reactions and optimizing conversions with highly active and selective polymeric catalysts
For over 60 years, DuPont has been a global market leader for catalyst ion exchange resins, replacing mineral acids and bases in many chemical reactions optimizing conversion, activity, and selectivity. Our DuPont™ AmberLyst™ polymeric catalysts are used throughout the world in order to enable the production of critical products such as BPA, fuel ethers, esters, and phenols. Our catalyst's polymer morphology and porosity can be optimized for transport properties and have been designed to operate under extreme conditions without compromising on stability, productivity, and lifetime.
Our catalysts are used throughout the industry enabling fundamental reactions from condensation and dimerization to etherification and esterification. With a wide range of polymeric catalyst resins to fit a multitude of applications, our portfolio is capable of supporting chemical and petrochemical processes now and into the future.
Catalysis Applications
Catalysts for condensation reactions for Bisphenol A (BPA) production
Bisphenol A (BPA) is produced through condensation of phenol and acetone using products such as DuPont™ AmberLyst™ polymeric catalysts. Our uniform particle size, solid acid monosphere catalysts exhibit high activity, high selectivity, and are designed with very low acid leaching to meet the stringent demands of BPA. Its particle size and pore structure allow for reduced pressure drop and notably longer lifetimes than conventional catalysts.
Catalyst solutions for dimerization reaction of isobutylene
Iso-octane (2,2,4-Trimethylpentane) is one of the preferred fuel additives used to boost engine performance, or octane number, and improve environmental properties of liquid fuels. Our solid acid DuPont™ AmberLyst™ polymeric catalysts, are an excellent choice for dimerization of isobutylene to iso-octene which is then converted to iso-otane by hydrogenation. Our catalysis open continuous pore structure makes them an excellent heterogeneous catalysis for a wide variety of organic reactions.
Catalysts for esterification reactions
A number of esters, such as acetates, acrylates, and fatty acid esters, are produced with the help of polymeric acid catalysts. The specific catalyst used depends predominantly on the type of ester and other factors such as selectivity required, temperature and more. Our catalysts offer enhanced reactivity, high temperature stability, and long lifetime.
Catalysts for etherification reactions to produce fuel ethers
MTBE, ETBE, and TAME are some of the most common oxygenated gasoline additives used for the purpose of improving octane number and assisting in a more complete combustion of gasoline. Our acid polymeric catalysts are used to produce these fuel ethers on large scale and help meet strict exhaust emission standards.
Catalysts for the production of MIBK, MEK and IPA
Primarily used in surface coatings, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) is a strong polar solvent with a moderate evaporation rate. MIBK is synthesized from acetone in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. We offer a unique solid acid product such as DuPont™ AmberLyst™ CH28 polymeric catalysts containing palladium for the synthesis of MIBK including dimerization, dehydration, and hydrogenation.
Lightly branched alcohols such as IPA, SBA, and TBA are produced by the reaction of olefin and water using an acid catalyst. DuPont has dedicated extensive research on the development of suitable hydration catalysts for olefin hydration processes.
View all industrial solvent synthesis products in our product finder.
Catalysts for the synthesis of alkyl phenols
The most frequently used technique to synthesize alkyl phenols is Friedel-Crafts alkylation. Due to the moderate temperatures involved in this process, the most cost-effective solution is to use acidic ion exchange catalysts. Our polymer-based catalysts are designed with high activity specifically for the synthesis of higher molecular weight alkyl phenols. Our catalysts can also be supplied in the dry form to guarantee a maximum activity.
Enabling removal of impurities from crude phenol
The impurities in the synthesis of crude phenols are difficult to remove by distillation and can form color bodies in phenol downstream processing. Our macroporous, heterogeneous, strong acid polymeric catalysts purify phenols by converting certain impurities into heavies, which are then easily removed by distillation from the desired phenol.
View all phenol purification products in our product finder.
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Condensation
Catalysts for condensation reactions for Bisphenol A (BPA) production
Bisphenol A (BPA) is produced through condensation of phenol and acetone using products such as DuPont™ AmberLyst™ polymeric catalysts. Our uniform particle size, solid acid monosphere catalysts exhibit high activity, high selectivity, and are designed with very low acid leaching to meet the stringent demands of BPA. Its particle size and pore structure allow for reduced pressure drop and notably longer lifetimes than conventional catalysts.
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Dimerization
Catalyst solutions for dimerization reaction of isobutylene
Iso-octane (2,2,4-Trimethylpentane) is one of the preferred fuel additives used to boost engine performance, or octane number, and improve environmental properties of liquid fuels. Our solid acid DuPont™ AmberLyst™ polymeric catalysts, are an excellent choice for dimerization of isobutylene to iso-octene which is then converted to iso-otane by hydrogenation. Our catalysis open continuous pore structure makes them an excellent heterogeneous catalysis for a wide variety of organic reactions.
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Esterification
Catalysts for esterification reactions
A number of esters, such as acetates, acrylates, and fatty acid esters, are produced with the help of polymeric acid catalysts. The specific catalyst used depends predominantly on the type of ester and other factors such as selectivity required, temperature and more. Our catalysts offer enhanced reactivity, high temperature stability, and long lifetime.
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Etherification
Catalysts for etherification reactions to produce fuel ethers
MTBE, ETBE, and TAME are some of the most common oxygenated gasoline additives used for the purpose of improving octane number and assisting in a more complete combustion of gasoline. Our acid polymeric catalysts are used to produce these fuel ethers on large scale and help meet strict exhaust emission standards.
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Industrial Solvent Synthesis
Catalysts for the production of MIBK, MEK and IPA
Primarily used in surface coatings, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) is a strong polar solvent with a moderate evaporation rate. MIBK is synthesized from acetone in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. We offer a unique solid acid product such as DuPont™ AmberLyst™ CH28 polymeric catalysts containing palladium for the synthesis of MIBK including dimerization, dehydration, and hydrogenation.
Lightly branched alcohols such as IPA, SBA, and TBA are produced by the reaction of olefin and water using an acid catalyst. DuPont has dedicated extensive research on the development of suitable hydration catalysts for olefin hydration processes.
View all industrial solvent synthesis products in our product finder.
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Phenol Alkylation
Catalysts for the synthesis of alkyl phenols
The most frequently used technique to synthesize alkyl phenols is Friedel-Crafts alkylation. Due to the moderate temperatures involved in this process, the most cost-effective solution is to use acidic ion exchange catalysts. Our polymer-based catalysts are designed with high activity specifically for the synthesis of higher molecular weight alkyl phenols. Our catalysts can also be supplied in the dry form to guarantee a maximum activity.
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Phenol Purification
Enabling removal of impurities from crude phenol
The impurities in the synthesis of crude phenols are difficult to remove by distillation and can form color bodies in phenol downstream processing. Our macroporous, heterogeneous, strong acid polymeric catalysts purify phenols by converting certain impurities into heavies, which are then easily removed by distillation from the desired phenol.
View all phenol purification products in our product finder.
Find products for catalysis applications
View a list of products suitable for various reactions.
Related industries
In addition to providing advanced solutions for processing, DuPont also provides solutions for high quality and reliable supply of wastewater for the catalysis industry.
We develop best-in-class technologies, accompanied by an advanced product portfolio of solutions, to address your crucial wastewater challenges.
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