Dehydration of 2-(4'-ethylbenzoyl)benzoic acid to 2-ethylanthra-quinone over H-β zeolite impregnated with citric acid

H-β zeolite catalyst samples were prepared by impregnation with citric acid and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and temperature-programmed desorption. The catalytic performance of the catalyst samples for dehydration of 2-(4'-ethylbenzoyl)benzoic acid (EBA) to 2-ethylanthraquinone (EAQ) was measured. The results showed that the impregnated samples remained the topological structure of H-β zeolite. There was more residual extra-framework aluminum and citric acid on the unwashed sample after impregnation. The sample washed with deionized water after impregnation exhibited high activity and selectivity in the reaction of EBA dehydration. The conversion of EBA was 96.5 % , and the selectivity for EAQ was 96.0 %.