Facile synthesis of Sn-containing MFI zeolites as versatile solid acid catalysts

Sn-containing MFI zeolites with controllable Al contents were successfully synthesized with the utilization of the EDTA-Sn complex as tin source and citrate as buffer solution for the first time. The elaborately strategy achieves a right release of Sn4+ ions rate to combine with the silicon tetrahedron species in the synthesis process which could make the heteroatom tin warmly incorporate into the zeolite frameworks. The structural information about the Sn-containing MFI zeolites was confirmed by XRD, FTIR, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Characterization results of HRTEM, FTIR, XPS, and UV-vis spectroscopy illustrated that most Sn species exist as isolated tetrahedral Sn(IV) in the as-prepared zeolites. The creation of Lewis acid sites in Sn-MFI and Sn-Al-MFI zeolites, and Bronsted acid sites in Sn-Al-MFI zeolites were determined by FTIR spectroscopy of pyridine adsorption and H-1 and P-31 MAS NMR spectroscopy after ammonia and trimethylphosphine oxide (TMPO) adsorption. Both the Sn-MFI and Sn-Al-MFI zeolite catalysts exhibit a remarkable catalytic performance in the conversion of dihydroxyacetone (DHA) to methyl lactate (ML), while the bifunctional Sn-Al-MFI catalyst exhibits a significant combination effect, and a remarkable active site-based turnover frequency with a high methyl lactate productivity can be achieved.