Selective catalytic synthesis of 2-ethyl phenol over Cu1-xCox Fe2O4-kinetics, catalysis and XPS aspects

A systematic study of catalytic ethylation of phenol is carried out with ethanol as a function of feed composition, time on stream (TOS), temperature, and catalyst composition over Cu1−xCoxFe2O4 (x=0.0–1.0) ferrospinel system. Phenol ethylation gives 2-ethyl phenol as a major product under the reaction conditions employed, while its selectivity decreases as temperature and Co-content increases. Compositions containing both Cu and Co (0