Supported phosphomolybdic acid catalysts on activated carbon (PMA/C) were prepared by solution impregnation and characterized by FTIR

XRD

BET and TG

and their catalytic performance evaluated for the methoxylation of α-pinene. The results show that PMA disperses on the surface of activated carbon well and is still of Keggin structure. The catalytic activity comes from acidity of supported PMA. The reaction conditions such as reaction time

temperature

PMA loading and mixing ratio of methanol to α-pinene were optimized by orthogonal experiment. The optimum values are:PMA loading 18.8%

PMA/C catalyst 15% (based on the mass of α-pinene)

molar ratio of methanol to α-pinene 2∶1

temperature 80℃ and reaction time 8 h. The yield of α-terpinyl methyl ether (TME) is 32.79% under the optimum conditions. TME yield has still 18.86% after catalyst used for 5 times.