9-8 Reinicker and Gatest investigated the liquid phase reaction between phenol and acetone to
bisphenol A and water at 364 K. The catalyst was a sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer. The
reaction is:
$$2C_6H_5OH + (CH_3)_2CO \longrightarrow (OH)CH_4C(CH_3)_2C_6H_4OH + H_2O$$
+ AIChE J., 20, 933 (1974).
386 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING KINETICS
Derive a rate equation based upon the following elementary steps (A = acetone, -SO3H = active
group in the polymer, P = phenol, I = tertiary alcohol intermediate):
(a) reversible adsorption of acetone
(b) reversible reaction of adsorbed acetone and phenol (not adsorbed) to give the adsorbed tertiary
alcohol intermediate
(c) irreversible surface reaction between adsorbed phenol and adsorbed tertiary alcohol to give ad-
sorbed water and bisphenol A (not adsorbed).
Assume that step (c) is rate controlling. This mechanism is an approximation to the more careful
development of Reinicker and Gates.