Using Titanium Alkoxide Complex to Synthesize TS-1 and Their Catalytic Performance for Propylene Epoxidation

Abstract

Titanium alkoxide complex as titanium source, silica gel as silica source, TPABr as templating agent have been used to synthesize titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1). In contrast to the commonly used Ti alkoxides, the titanium alkoxide complex will be very stable in water at room temperature, which offers considerable advantages when compared to conventional synthesis routes. By XRD and IR results, it was shown that titanium can be incorporated into the silicalite framework up to an extent about 2.3% (mol) Ti/(Ti+Si) without extra framework. In batch experiment, with TS-1 as propylene epoxidation catalyst, the conversion of hydrogen peroxide and the selectivity for propylene oxide are higher than 96%. Aging test on extruded TS-1 catalyst were carried out in a continuous-flow fixed bed reactor, it was concluded that synthesized TS-1 has the good catalytic performance and stability.