Switzerland develops efficient nano-epoxidation catalyst

The Swiss Institute of Technology has developed a low-cost, high-efficiency nanoparticle titanium dioxide-silica catalyst that can be used in epoxidation reactions. Epoxides are key intermediates in the production of many polymers, surfactants and pharmaceuticals.
Compared with traditional epoxidation catalysts, this catalyst can greatly increase the conversion rate. They are based on the same material but produce few by-products, while being more efficient and more stable. The traditional epoxidation catalyst selectivity is 65-80%, while the selectivity of titanium dioxide-silica nanonew catalyst is about 90%.
This catalyst is produced in a continuous gas phase process and is less expensive than conventional epoxidation catalysts. Conventional epoxidation catalysts are manufactured using wet-phase chemical batch processes. To make this new catalyst, silica and titania precursors are evaporated and mixed separately before being fed into the hydrogen-air diffusion flame. During the reaction, the corresponding oxides form highly agglomerated nanoparticles, and titanium dioxide is deposited in two. The surface of the silicon oxide particles. Flame Reactor Manufacturing Although this catalyst has not been used on an industrial scale, the catalyst produced by the flame method has been shown to have excellent selectivity and stability, suitable for a wide range of processes, including 2-cyclohexenol Epoxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide produces 2,3-epoxidized cyclohexenol.