Direct glycol assisted synthesis of an amorphous mesoporous silicate with framework incorporated Co2+: characterization and catalytic application in ethylbenzene oxidation

Abstract

Cobalt was successfully incorporated into an amorphous disordered mesoporous silica, TUD-1 using tetraethylene glycol (TEG) as a non-surfactant structure directing agent. The Si/Co ratio was varied (100, 50 and 25) and the prepared materials were characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques, viz., XRD, N₂ sorption, diffuse reflectance UV-Vis, FTIR, ICP-OES, SEM-EDAX, TEM, TGA and XPS studies. N₂ sorption and TEM revealed the amorphous mesoporous nature of these materials. The exclusive formation of framework incorporated Co²⁺ species in these materials was confirmed from XPS and UV-Vis studies. Activity of the CoTUD-1 material was tested for the liquid phase ethylbenzene oxidation with TBHP (70%) as an oxidant. Various reaction parameters such as time, TBHP concentration and solvents were studied.