The H-mordenite zeolite catalyzes the polymerization of N,N-diethanol acrylamide (DEAA) with phthalic anhydride (PA) yielding
polyesteramide (PEA) resin. The Fe modified mordenites showed lower activity than that of H-mordenite that presented high stability on
multiple recycling. The formation of DEAA; the principal step in forming PEA, was occurred through the condensation reaction of diethanol
amine (DEA) and acrylic acid (AA) with 91% selectivity in addition to 9% devoted for the corresponding ester (diethanol amine monoacrylate;
DEMA). The IR spectroscopic study of DEAA formation in the presence of mordenite zeolite reveals the greater affinity of the reactants
specifically AA to protons that are likely to be the initiators of the DEAA formation. The formation of ester was confirmed through the
appearance of a band at 1735 cm−1 attributed to the stretching vibration of C=O of ester groups. A possible reaction mechanism is proposed
based on data reported in the literature and the results of the present investigation. The activation energy of the DEAA formation was found to
be 35.5 kJ mol−1, for non-catalyzed and 11.46 kJ mol−1, for the H-mordenite catalyzed one. The acidic and textural properties of the catalytic
samples have been measured using NH3 adsorption (at 150 ◦C) and N2 adsorption (at −196 ◦C), respectively. The results obtained indicate
the importance of the zeolite acid selectivity towards amide and ester formation