Catalytic Oxidation of Vanillyl Alcohol Using FeMCM-41 Nanoporous Tubular Reactor

Abstract

Iron containing nanoporous MCM-41 (FeMCM-41) with different Si/Fe ratios of 50, 100 and 150 was synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis process. The materials obtained from hydrothermal synthesis were characterized by various physico chemical techniques such as XRD, N2 adsorption, DR UV-vis, EPR and FTIR spectroscopy. XRD analyses of FeMCM-41 materials confirmed the presence of well-ordered crystalline structure. N2 isotherm of FeMCM-41 materials showed type IV adsorption isotherm. EPR and DR UV-vis analysis of FeMCM-41 samples indicates the presence of high tetrahedral coordination at the Si/Fe ratios of 100 and 150. The catalytic performance of FeMCM-41 nano tubular reactor was tested in the liquid phase oxidation of vanillyl alcohol into vanillin using H2O2 (50[Formula: see text]wt% in water). The reaction products were analyzed by gas chromatography in DB-5 capillary column with flame ionization detector. The products were confirmed by 1H NMR, [Formula: see text]C NMR and LC-Mass spectroscopy. The maximum conversion of vanillyl alcohol (85%) and selectivity towards vanillin (82%) were observed using the catalyst FeMCM-41(100) in 30[Formula: see text]min at 60[Formula: see text]C. The influence of reaction temperature, reaction time, reactants molar ratio, Si/Fe ratio and amount of catalyst were investigated.