Preparation of solid acid catalyst from modified Kaolinite and its characterization and catalytic activity

637-643A new eco-friendly solid acid heterogeneous catalyst has been prepared from Kaolinite clay for the acetylation of cyclohexanol using acetic acid. Catalyst is prepared from purified and calcined Kaolinite, collected from Nileswar, Kerala, by acid activation using different concentrations of sulphuric acid. The physico-chemical characterization of the catalysts has been carried out using XRD, FTIR, SEM, TG/DTA, surface area analysis, acidity measurement and cation exchange capacity measurement. Acid activation increases the number of acid sites on the clay surface. The acid treatment of NS4 is found to give maximum number of acid site with good catalytic activity. The catalytic activity of the same catalyst NS4 has also been tested by using different primary and secondary alcohols