Liquid-phase oxidation of benzene and phenol on MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves modified with iron and cobalt compounds

Nanostructured (I) Fe2O3 and Co3O4 stabilized in the mesopores of an MCM-41 sieve and immobilized (II) FeCl2, Fe(acac)3, and FePc on the surface of an MCM-41 sieve functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTES) were synthesized and examined. The materials were characterized by elemental analysis, H2 -TPR, X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and electronic absorption spectroscopy, as well as by low-temperature N2 adsorption. The catalytic activity was evaluated in the reaction of liquid-phase oxidation of benzene and phenol with hydrogen peroxide. Catalysts I showed a low activity in benzene oxidation, whereas catalysts II were active in the oxidation of phenol.