Synthesis of titanium silicalite‐1 with high titanium content and its catalytic performance of propylene epoxidation

Abstract

AbstractTitanium silicalite‐1 (TS‐1) has unique catalytic properties for oxidation reactions due to the titanium atom in the framework. To increase the Ti content in the framework, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was added as a surfactant to modify TS‐1 (PTS‐1). The titanium content in PTS‐1 as the active site in the catalytic reaction increased to 0.87 wt%, compared with the traditional TS‐1 which has a titanium content of 0.64 wt%. Simultaneously, the average particle size of PTS‐1 is reduced to 180 nm, compared with TS‐1 (230 nm). The increase in Ti content makes the Au loading increase; thus, Au/PTS‐1 shows higher catalytic performance for propylene epoxidation, and the propylene oxide (PO) formation rate increases from 95 gPOh−1kgCat−1 with Au/TS‐1 to 190 gPOh−1kgCat−1 with Au/PTS‐1. In addition, the mechanism for the modification of Ti content by PVP is proposed.