Novel SBA-15 supported heteropoly acid catalysts for benzene alkylation with 1-dodecene

Phosphotungstic acid (PW) catalysts supported on the mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15 have been prepared, characterized and evaluated in the alkylation reaction of benzene with 1-dodecene. SBA-15 supported PW catalysts exhibit much higher catalytic activity, stability and selectivity compared with HY zeolite. It is proposed that the high dispersion of PW on SBA-15, high surface area, mesoporosity and specific acidity of the catalyst could responsible for its catalytic performances.