Relevant properties for catalytic activity of sulfonic ion-exchange resins in etherification of isobutene with linear primary alcohols

[Display omitted] •Reaction rates for a given acidic resin generally increase with the alcohol size.•High acid capacity enhances resin catalytic activity.•Low specific volume of swollen polymer enhances resin catalytic activity. The catalyzed liquid-phase reaction of isobutene with a homologous series of linear alcohols, from methanol to 1-butanol, has been studied at 333K and 1.5MPa. Sixteen sulfonic ion-exchange resins, to cover a wide range of properties, have been assayed. A response surface methodology analysis allowed to identify the most relevant catalyst properties, and the change of their relative importance along the homologous series of alcohols. Globally, reaction rates increase with the alcohol length. Resins with a high acid capacity and low specific volume of swollen polymer are the most active ones for the studied etherification reactions.