Nanoparticulate Tungsten Oxide for Catalytic Epoxidations

A combination of spectroscopic and catalytic investigations led to the surprising conclusion that not isolated W-VI species but WO3 oxide is the most active and stable phase for olefin epoxidation with H2O2. Optimal activity was subsequently found for a nanoparticulate WO3 prepared by flame aerosol technology. This material is characterized by a 50% increase in activity per W-VI site, and a 35-fold increase in space time yield, compared with the current benchmark catalyst.