Mono (V, Nb) or bimetallic (V-Ti, Nb-Ti) ions modified MCM-41 catalysts: synthesis, characterization and catalysis in oxidation of hydrocarbons (aromatics and alcohols)

Mesoporous MCM-41 molecular sieves modified by single (V and Nb) or bimetal (Nb-Ti and V-Ti) ions with highly ordered hexagonal arrangement of their cylindrical channels were prepared by direct synthesis with two different silica sources (sodium silicate and TEOS) and characterized (as-synthesized samples and those used after reaction) by XRD, N-2 adsorption-desorption, TEM, SEM and FTIR techniques. Niobium and titanium were stabilized in the autoclavized gel by complexation with a ligand (acetylacetone and oxalic acid, respectively). V modified MCM-41 catalysts gave a very high activity in hydroxylation reaction of benzene and toluene and a low conversion in oxidation of styrene while Nb-modified MCM-41 samples showed very high conversion in oxidation of styrene but low oxidation conversion of benzene and toluene. Further introduction of titanium in V- and Nb-modified MCM-41 materials conducted to the less well-ordered hexagonal arrangement and gave very different effect on activity in oxidation of aromatics. Introduction of Ti into V-MCM-41 solids led to an increase in activity in oxidation of styrene and benzene but a decrease in conversion in oxidation of toluene. While the addition of Ti in Nb-MCM-41 resulted in a slight increase in conversion of styrene oxidation but a significant decrease in activity of benzene and toluene oxidation. It reveals that the introduction mode of oxidant in the reactors can also influence the activity and selectivity of reaction. An increase in reaction rate of oxidation, in the first 20 h, was obtained by introduction of H2O2 step by step during the reaction. The present paper evidenced that the side chain oxidation is main reaction of styrene oxidation while the hydroxylation is main reaction of benzene and toluene. That is why these two reactions need different catalytic centers as revealed by this paper. The oxidation of alcohols using V-modified MCM-41 as catalysts has also been explored and these catalysts showed a very low catalytic activity which increases in the order: hexanol < cyclohexanol < hexanediol. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.