Synthesis of diisooctyl dodecanedioate catalyzed by solid superacid catalyst SO~(2-)_4/ZrO_2

The solid superacid catalyst SO2-4/ ZrO2is prepared by precipiation and impregnation,and their structure are characterized by FT-IR and X-RD. Diisooctyl dodecanedioate is synthesized from dodecanedioic acid and iso-octyl alcohol with SO2-4/ ZrO2solid acid as catalyst. The influence factors of the reaction,such as reaction temperature,reaction time,mole ratio and amount of catalysts are investigated. The optimum conditions for synthesis of diisooctyl dodecanedioate are shown as follows: 130℃ of reaction temperature,4 ∶ 1 of n( iso-octyl alcohol) ∶ n( dodecanedioic acid),5 hours of reaction time and 1. 5%( based on the of acid mass) catalyst. Under the optimal condition,the yield of esterification reaches 98. 4%. The catalyst can be reused without treatment. The yield of esterification reaches 95. 3% when the catalyst is reused for 5 times.