The effect of oxidation of ethane to oxygenates on Pt- and Zn-containing LTA zeolites with tunable selectivity

Abstract

Platinum and zinc containing LTA zeolite catalysts with tunable meso/microporosity were prepared by using ligand-metal precursors under hydrothermal condition. These materials were employed for oxidation of ethane to oxygenates using hydrogen peroxides as oxidant under mild reaction condition. The results showed that platinum and zinc loaded LTA zeolites were effective for the partial oxidation of ethane with hydrogen peroxide giving the desired C2 oxygenates. Moreover, the C1 oxygenates were also obtained through subsequent CC bond scission pathways. The over oxidation of ethanol/methanol to acetic acid/formic acid could be inhibited through the introduction of mesoporosity in LTA zeolites. Our findings for oxidation of ethane suggested that the selectivity to the oxidation products such as alcohols and acids could be tailored by tuning the metal species within the LTA zeolites and porosity of catalysts, indicating that a balance between the meso/microporosity and metal species in LTA zeolites can be realized for desirable catalysis by one-pot synthesis of zeolites. In addition, the selectivity to oxygenates can also be tuned by control of the reaction conditions, i.e. concentration of hydrogen peroxide or reaction time.