“Clean” limonene epoxidation using Ti-MCM-41 catalyst

The limonene oxidation with H2O2 (“clean” oxidation) using a Ti-MCM-41 catalyst was studied. This catalyst was synthesized by a sol-gel method and characterized by XRD, DRS, ICP and BET. The operative reaction conditions, under which no Ti leaching was detected, were determined. In these conditions the catalyst has shown a high activity, and very good selectivity towards epoxides. The kinetic parameter measurements were carried assuming a heterogeneous reaction and empirical power rate law. Using the initial rate method, a first order with respect to the concentrations of catalyst, limonene and hydrogen peroxide were determined. An apparent activation energy value of 16.4 kJ/mol and a pre-exponential Arrheniuśs factor of 7.1 l2/g mol h were obtained.