Effect of the Acidity of the Groups of Functionalized Silicas on the Direct Synthesis of H2O2

Three catalysts consisting of palladium supported on functionalized silica with different acid groups (namely aryl sulfonic, alkyl phosphonic and alkyl carboxylic groups) were prepared and tested in the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in neutral methanol medium at an overall pressure of 5.0 MPa. These catalysts can produce hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the activity results indicated correlations among the acid strength of the acidic group on the supports, the proportion of high binding energy palladium species and the selectivity for hydrogen peroxide.