Methyl acetate synthesis by esterification on the modified ferrierite: Correlation of acid sites measured by pyridine IR and NH₃-TPD for steady-state activity

The amounts of Brønsted acid sites on K, P, and Zr-modified microporous Ferrierite zeolite were investigated through pyridine FT-IR and NH₃-TPD analyses. P-modified Ferrierite showed a superior catalytic activity for methyl acetate synthesis by esterification of methanol and acetic acid. The catalytic activity at steady-state with the acidic properties of as-prepared catalysts was well correlated with the results of pyridine FT-IR (intensity ratio of Brønsted acid sites to total acid sites) compared with that of NH₃-TPD. The results can suggest the proper and simple method to estimate the esterification activity at steady-state using the measured acid sites on the as-prepared zeolites.