FRACTALITY AND ACTIVITY OF ACID CATALYSTS IN THE LIQUID-PHASE SYNTHESIS OF ETHYL tert-BUTYL ETHER

A study was carried out on the synthesis of ethyl tert-butyl ether from ethanol and 2-methylpropene on silica gel samples modified by the addition of ZrO2 and Al2O3. A decrease in the turnover frequency (TOF) of the reaction is observed with increasing acidity of surface of the modified silica gels. A relationship was found between the TOF of the reaction and the fractal dimension of the catalyst. The TOF of the reaction decreases with increasing fractal dimension of the catalyst.