Abstract
Three dimensional (3D) cubic cage like Im3m mesoporous SBA-16 was synthesized by one pot hydrothermal method using Pluronic F127 as structure directing agent and Tetraethylorthosilicate as silica precursor. Different weight percentages (1 wt%, 3 wt% and 5 wt%) of manganese nitrate tetrahydrate were homogeneously mixed with the same weight percentages of ammonium tungsten oxide hydrate respectively and dispersed on SBA-16 by incipient wet impregnation method. Structural identification and the particle arrangement for as-synthesized SBA-16 materials were analyzed using low and high angle X-ray diffraction. Surface area, pore-diameter, pore volume and pore size distribution were observed using the N2 adsorption isotherm technique with H2 hysteresis loop. The topography of the catalyst was characterized by TEM. The chemical valence state and elemental composition were characterized by high-resolution XPS respectively. The thermal stability of the catalyst was characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis. The synthesized materials MnWO4/SBA-16 were tested for epoxidation of styrene with environmentally benign TBHP as an oxidant. Various parametric investigations were performed and reported. From the above investigation, it is inferred that the major product of styrene oxide was obtained with maximum selectivity of about 75% using MnWO4 (3 wt%)/SBA-16.