A new approach for synthesis of CSA-SBA-15: Its characterization and superior catalytic activity

A novel CSA-SBA-15 has been synthesized under mild reaction condition using mesoporous SBA-15 synthesized by pH-adjusting method with organic modifying reagents and copper nitrate trihydrate, and it has been characterized by XRD, FTIR, N2 adsorption, ESR, UV–vis DRS, FE-SEM and TEM for the investigation of nature of copper species and its interaction with SA-SBA-15. The results of elemental analysis obtained by CHN and ICP-AES show that the molar ratio of N:Cu is ≈3.5, and the molar ratio of C:Cu is ≈23.8. ICP-AES result shows the number of copper-ions (ca. 0.198 wt.%) coordinated with SA-SBA-15. The FTIR results confirm the amine and azomethine groups grafted on SBA-15 while the results of ESR and UV–vis DRS confirm the Cu(II) species anchored on SA-SBA-15. The CSA-SBA-15 is found to be a highly active and recycle heterogeneous catalyst for the selective syntheses of olefin epoxides, and it has superior catalytic activity in the epoxidation of olefins than metal ions incorporated/impregnated mesoporous catalysts.