Optimization of reaction conditions for cyclohexene epoxidation with H2O2 over nanocrystalline mesoporous TiO2 loaded with RuO2

Cyclohexene epoxidation with H2O2 was performed over RuO2/TiO2 under various conditions. The support TiO2 prepared by surfactant-assisted templating sol–gel method is nanocrystalline and has mesoporous structure with narrow monomodal pore size distribution. An activator of 1 mol% RuO2 was loaded onto the synthesized TiO2 by incipient wetness impregnation method. The resultant catalyst was characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption and TEM analyses. Reaction conditions in the epoxidation reaction, namely reaction temperature, amount of catalyst and concentration of H2O2 in terms of cyclohexene/H2O2 ratio, were systematically optimized to obtain maximum selectivity to cyclohexene oxide.

Graphical abstractReaction condition of RuO2 loaded on nanocrystalline mesoporous TiO2 with narrow and monomodal pore size distribution was optimized in terms of reaction temperature, catalyst amount and H2O2 concentration on cyclohexene epoxidation activity with H2O2 in tert-BuOH. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide