Highly selective gas-phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde over silver-containing hexagonal mesoporous silica

Silver-containing hexagonal mesoporous silica (Ag-HMS) catalysts with different Si/Ag ratios were synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method for gas-phase selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. The samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron micrograph, transmission electron micrograph, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra. It was found that the Ag-HMS catalysts with different Ag loadings (0.55–3.50 wt.%) and different Ag particle sizes (5–32 nm) showed a similar level of catalytic property because they possess a similar Ag surface area. The Ag-HMS catalyst with a Ag loading of 2.81 wt.% exhibited excellent catalytic properties at 583 K with a high benzyl alcohol conversion of near 100%, benzaldehyde selectivity of around 96.0%, and benzaldehyde yield of about 96.0%, superior to those of other M-HMS catalysts (M = Co, Ce, La, Cu, Sr, Cd, Ni, Mn, V, and Fe). The enhanced catalytic performance could be attributed to the presence of the Ag surface oxygen species generated via oxygen spillover process. The work would be helpful for the development of novel Ag catalysts for selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to obtain high quality of benzaldehyde and understanding the catalytic mechanism.

Ag-HMS catalysts show enhanced catalytic performance in gas phase selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde because of the presence of oxygen species on the Ag surface derived from oxygen spillover.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Ag-HMS catalysts show a high catalytic performance for gas-phase selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde.
► The enhanced property is attributed to the presence of oxygen species on Ag surface.
► The surface area of Ag is the key to control the amount of oxygen species created.