Gas-phase Β-pinene Isomerization over Acid-activated Bentonite

−− The kinetics of the gas-phase isomerization of β-pinene over an acid-activated bentonite clay has been investigated in a fixed-bed continuous flow reactor, at atmospheric pressure between 58 and 90 C. The major isomers produced were camphene, α-pinene and limonene. The reaction rates of β-pinene conversion and the apparent activation energy were determined. The kinetics of β-pinene isomerization was described by zero-order kinetics with an activation energy of 30-35 kJ/mol for the major products formed.