Room temperature synthesized spherical V-MCM-41: a catalyst for vapour phase oxidation of diphenylmethane

Mesoporous spherical Si-MCM-41 and V-MCM-41 materials with a variable Si/V ratio of 25, 50, 75 and 100 were prepared by an economical route at room temperature and characterized by various techniques for qualitative and quantitative understanding of vanadium species. The morphology and mesoporosity of the spherical particles were confirmed by SEM and TEM micrographs. The catalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts was tested for vapour phase oxidation of diphenylmethane to benzophenone using CO2 free air as oxidant at atmospheric pressure. The conversion of diphenylmethane and selectivity for benzophenone were measured in the temperature range of 593-713 K over V-MCM-41 catalysts synthesized by adopting room temperature method as well as by direct hydrothermal method. The catalytic performance was related to vanadium content on the surface of the catalysts.