Ion-exchange molded catalyst and method of its preparation

An ion-exchange molded catalyst consisting of a sulfonated copolymer of styrene with divinylbenzene or diisopropenyl benzene and a sulfonated thermoplastic material taken in a proportion of 1-4:1-2 by weight, respectively. The method of preparation of the ion-exchange molded catalyst consists in mixing the copolymer of styrene with divinylbenzene or diisopropenyl benzene and the thermoplastic material in a proportion of 1-4:1-2, by weight respectively. The obtained mixture is molded by extrusion with heating to the melting point of the thermoplastic material and forming molded elements which are treated first with a sulfonating agent at 20 DEG - 100 DEG C, then with water. The catalyst according to the invention can be made in the form of elements of various shapes and sizes. The catalyst has a high mechanical strength (compression strength reaches 200 kg/cm2), a high catalytic activity and a high heat resistance (can be used at temperatures of up to 130 DEG C). The static exchange capacity of the catalyst reaches 4.25 mg-equiv/g of dry catalyst.