Synthesis of copper mesostructured silica and functionalization by trimethyl chlorosilane (TMCS)

Mesoporous material of MCM-41 type has been modified by the introduction of aluminium and copper, and then by grafting with trimethyl chlorosilane (TMCS). The influence of these treatments on the mesoporous materials was evaluated by the reaction of phenol degradation in the presence of H2O2. The characterization of the materials by several techniques (X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, UV and IRTF spectroscopies, etc.) shows that the mesostructural order is retained after the different modifications and that the grafting enhances the catalytic activity in the degradation of phenol.