Abstract: Fir char-sulfonic acid was prepared by pyrolysis of fir wood powder at 350℃ followed by sulfonation of chinese fir charcoal with fuming sulfuric acid. FT-IR、XRD、TG and other analyses showed that chinese fir charcoal retains the benzene ring structure of lignin, with the active hydrogen for sulfonation, so that sulfonic acid groups can be successfully bonded to the charcoal skeleton. Compared with other solid acid catalysts, chinese fir char-sulfonic acid groups have higher conversion and comparable selectivity. The catalytic properties of chinese fir char-sulfonic acid were investigated in the ring-opening addition reactions of epoxy-phenylethane with five kinds of alcohols. The results showed that: fir char-sulfonic acid has different catalytic activity in these reactions among which the highest conversion rate of epoxy-phenylethane ring opening addition with methanol was up to 89.4%, selectivity was 94.6%. This catalyst can be used for 6 times. For anhydrous reaction system, the catalyst must be dried before it is used.

Key words: chinese fir, char-sulfonic acid, epoxy-phenylethane, ring-opening addition reaction