Method for quantitation of acid sites in acidic catalysts using silane and borane compounds

A method of quantifying an amount of Brønsted acid sites in an aluminum chloride-containing catalyst comprising:

• contacting a known amount of at least one silane or borane compound with the aluminum chloride-containing catalyst, the Brønsted acid sites in the aluminum chloride-containing catalyst reacting with the at least one silane or borane compound resulting in an catalyst phase and a hydrocarbon phase comprising at least one silyl or boryl compound;
• separating the catalyst phase from the hydrocarbon phase;
• measuring an amount of the at least one silyl or boryl compound in the hydrocarbon phase using gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence, liquid chromatography, ion chromatography, or combinations thereof;
• determining the amount of Brønsted acid sites from the measured amount of the at least one silyl or boryl compound.