Abstract: Catalytic performance and deactivation of the Cu-HZSM-5 catalyst for gas-phase hydroxylation of chlorobenzene to phenol were studied. Under the conditions of 773 K and water/chlorobenzene volume ratio of 3, a chlorobenzene conversion of 82.4% and a phenol selectivity of 98.2% were obtained. Deactivation of the Cu-HZSM-5 catalyst was observed during the reaction. Characterization byX-raydiffraction, N2 static adsorption, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine was performed on fresh, used, and regenerated catalysts to study the essence of the catalytic reaction and catalyst deactivation. The leaching of copper from the catalyst, framework dealumination of HZSM-5, and coking were the main causes for the catalyst deactivation.

Key words: chlorobenzene, gas-phase hydroxylation, phenol, copper, HZSM-5 zeolite, catalyst deactivation