Epoxidation of propylene with H2O2 catalyzed by supported TS-1 catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor: Experiments and kinetics

The epoxidation of propylene with H2O2 catalyzed by a supported TS-1 catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor has been studied. The effects of methanol concentration (40–70 wt.%), hydrogen peroxide concentration (5–20 wt.%), propylene pressure (0.2–0.6 MPa) and temperature (35–50 °C) on the reaction are investigated. The experimental results show that the reaction rate increases with the increase in methanol concentrations, hydrogen peroxide concentrations, propylene pressure and temperature; the activation energy of the reaction is 46.8 kJ mol−1 and the reaction orders with respect to hydrogen peroxide and propylene are 0.32 and 0.68, respectively. The reaction was modeled with Eley–Rideal (E–R) and Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) models, and the results show that the kinetic model of Eley–Rideal with H2O2 being adsorbed can give the best fit among the models compared for the epoxidation of propylene with H2O2.

• Reaction kinetics of the propylene epoxidation in fixed-bed reactors is studied. • The systematic experimental study and modeling of this reaction are reported. • Eley–Rideal adsorbed with H2O2 model precisely describes the reaction mechanism.