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Heterogeneously Catalyzed Oxidation Reactions Using ... - CHEC

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the carboxylic acid, ceria inhibited the reaction exhibiting radical scavenger properties. Contrary to p‐<br />

xylene, neither ethylbenzene nor cumene conversion was promoted by ceria even in the presence of<br />

a carboxylic acid. Substantial leaching of silver was observed with the impregnated silver catalyst. By<br />

using silver supported on CeO2‐SiO2 prepared by flame spray pyrolysis, leaching could be limited<br />

significantly. XAS investigation revealed that the active catalyst is most likely metallic silver.<br />

Compared to silver on silica calcined at 500 °C (vide supra) the particle size obtained from XAS for the<br />

impregnated catalyst calcined at 900 °C (> 5 nm) was in qualitative agreement with TEM and XRD<br />

results.<br />

<strong>Oxidation</strong> reactions like the previously described alcohol oxidation can profit from the use of<br />

pressurized CO2 as a solvent. Phase behavior in CO2 containing systems was previously shown to be<br />

important for catalytic reactions. <strong>Using</strong> the Cubic plus Association (CPA) Equation of State the phase<br />

behavior of ternary systems consisting of benzyl alcohol – O2 – CO2 and benzaldehyde – H2O – CO2<br />

were modeled. Dew points of the latter system occurred in general at lower pressures than the<br />

former. Good agreement between experimental data measured at catalysis‐relevant conditions and<br />

the model was found. Experimental dew points occurred at (slightly) lower pressures as predicted by<br />

the model. The usefulness of the model was further evaluated in a continuous catalytic study with<br />

Pd/Al2O3 as catalyst where the conversion of benzyl alcohol was monitored as a function of pressure.<br />

Indeed the reaction rate differed significantly depending on whether the system was mono‐ or<br />

biphasic. The CPA model predictions therefore assist in locating the pressure regime with the highest<br />

catalytic activity in a rational manner making extensive trial‐and‐error experiments unnecessary.<br />

Biphasic conditions close to the dew point gave the highest catalytic activity for benzyl alcohol<br />

oxidation over Pd/Al2O3 while rates were lower under single phase conditions. A reason for this<br />

behavior might be overoxidation of palladium or blocking of surface sites by byproducts with low<br />

solubility under single phase conditions. Under biphasic conditions the substrate was found to<br />

accumulate in the reactor (and the overall experimental setup) leading to longer residence times.<br />

Compared to alcohol oxidation the epoxidation of olefins with molecular oxygen is more<br />

difficult. <strong>Using</strong> N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent the Co‐based metal‐organic framework<br />

(MOF) STA‐12(Co) catalyzed the epoxidation of styrene, (E)‐ and (Z)‐stilbene. While the stilbene<br />

isomers were converted with good selectivity, styrene probably underwent oligomerization as a<br />

major side reaction. DMF was oxidized correlating with the olefin conversion thus functioning as a<br />

sacrificial reductant. Due to the high Co loading of the MOF, high conversions were achieved with<br />

considerably lower absolute catalyst amounts compared to previous literature results. Higher<br />

reaction rates were observed with increasing temperature, substrate concentration and oxygen<br />

supply while the amount of catalyst only had a limited influence. Some cobalt leaching was observed<br />

though the MOF in general exhibited good stability as suggested by scanning electron microscopy<br />

V

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