Preparation and properties of solid acid zirconium oligo(sulfostyrenyl) phosphonate hydrogen phosphate supported on TiO2

The new type of solid acid zirconium oligo(sulfostyrenyl) phosphonate hydrogen phosphate supported on TiO2 (ZSSPP/TiO2) was prepared and characterized by IR, BET, SEM and XRD. BET and XRD results indicated that ZSSPP/TiO2 was mesoporous and amorphous with 396 m2/g of BET surface area and 0.642 ml/g of pore volume. Comparing with mineral acid such as sulfuric acid or classical resins such as Amberlyst-15 and Nafion NR50 in the esterification reaction between acetic acid and 1-butanol, the order of catalytic activities was: sulfuric acid > ZSSPP/TiO2 > Amberlyst-15 > Nafion NR50. ZSSPP/TiO2 showed higher catalytic activities and reusability in the investigated esterification and acetalization (ketal) reactions.