The optimal conditions preparing the triphase catalyst had been found in the first part of a series of studies. In the second part, the triphase catalyst was used for catalyzing the etherification reaction to synthesize n-butyl phenyl ether. This work investigates the factors influencing the triphase catalyzed to obtain the optimal reaction conditions in a batch reactor. The experimental reaults show that the triphase catalyst prepared from the first part has good catalytic activity for the reaction between n-butyl bromide and sodium phenolate. The mass transfer resistance can be neglected when the agitation speed is beyond 200rpm. The order of adding solvent has less effect on the conversion of n-butyl bromide. The increases in the amount of catalyst and temperature will enhance the reaction rate, but a higher concentration of reactant in organic or aqueous phase and the addition of sodium bromide salt lower the conversion of n-butyl bromide. However, the existence of sodium bromide the fractional yield of the main product (n-butyl-phenyl-ether). When a nonpolar solvent such as n-heptane is utilized, a higher conversion can be obtained at a sacrifice of the fractional yield of the main product. A triphase catalyst will have a higher catalytic activity when it is provided with an appropriate lipophilicity.
