Titanium dioxide-supported sulfonated low rank coal as catalysts in the oxidation of styrene with aqueous hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

Titanium dioxide supported sulfonated low rank coal catalyst possesses high catalytic activity in liquid phase oxidation of styrene with aqueous hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. The catalysts were prepared by sulfonation with concentrated sulfuric acid and impregnation of titanium dioxide (500-2500 μmol). The effect of titanium dioxide impregnation and calcinations on the catalysts were studied by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, BET surface area, field emission scanning electron microscopy and hydrophobicity measurement. The catalytic activity of the catalysts in the oxidation of styrene by aqueous H2O2 without calcination increased when the amount of titanium dioxide increased. Meanwhile, the catalytic activity of the catalyst calcined at 500°C for 2 h was lower than before calcination. It is suggested that the agglomeration of titanium dioxide and hydrophobicity play important role in the catalytic activity of titanium dioxide-supported sulfonated low rank coal in the oxidation of styrene with aqueous H2O2.