Selective Production of p-Xylene from Dimethylfuran and Ethylene Over Tungstated Zirconia Catalysts

p-Xylene (PX) is an important large-volume commodity chemical in the petrochemical industry. Therefore, research on producing PX from bio-mass-derived resources is a considerable interest in relation to future alternative technologies. Recently, a new potential route for the direct and selective production of bio-based PX was reported, referred to as the Diels–Alder cycloaddition of biomassderived 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and ethylene followed by the dehydration of an intermediate. Here, we prepared tungstated zirconia (WO_x-ZrO₂ materials at different calcination temperatures and times as solid acid catalysts for PX production. From structural analyses and measurements of the surface acidity, the WO_x-ZrO₂ was found to be composed of mesopores with high surface acidity within the optimum calcination temperature and time range. This WO_x-ZrO₂ catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity upon the cycloaddition of DMF with ethylene as compared to commercial beta zeolite and previously reported silica-alumina catalysts.