Modification of Coal Char-loaded TiO2 by Sulfonation and Alkylsilylation to Enhance Catalytic Activity in Styrene Oxidation with Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidant

Abstract

The modified coal char from low-rank coal by sulfonation, titanium impregnation and followed by alkyl silylation possesses high catalytic activity in styrene oxidation. The surface of coal char was undergone several steps as such: modification using concentrated sulfuric acid in the sulfonation process, impreg-nation of 500 mmol titanium(IV) isopropoxide and followed by alkyl silylation of n-octadecyltriclorosilane (OTS). The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectros-copy, nitrogen adsorption, and hydrophobicity. The catalytic activity of the catalysts has been exam-ined in the liquid phase styrene oxidation by using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The cata-lytic study showed the alkyl silylation could enhance the catalytic activity of Ti-SO3H/CC-600(2.0). High catalytic activity and reusability of the o-Ti-SO3H/CC-600(2.0) were related to the modification of local environment of titanium active sites and the enhancement the hydrophobicity of catalyst particle by alkyl silylation. Copyright © 2017 BCREC GROUP. All rights reserved