Nitrogen-Incorporated SBA-15 Mesoporous Molecular Sieve Supported Palladium for Solvent-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol

Palladium catalysts supported on nitrogen-incorporated SBA-15(SBA-15-N) prepared using sol-immobilization are found to be highly efficient and reusable catalysts for the solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol using molecular oxygen under low pressure. The samples were characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption- desorption, ICP, EA, FTIR, Pyridine-IR and TEM techniques. The results indicated that nitrogen was incorporated into the SBA-15 framework, and the nitridation treatment was an alternative and effective way to modify the properties of the SBA-15 for immobilizing Pd. It was supposed that the interaction between the surface-NH_x groups and Pd precursors was the key to immobilizing Pd. The catalyst displayed an obvious improvement in catalytic activity, showing a high selectivity of benzyl alcohol oxidation. The 2 %Pd/SBA-15-900 N catalyst also can be readily recovered and reused at least five consecutive cycles without significant leaching and lose its catalytic activity. Graphical Abstract: Selected area electron diffraction image of 2 %Pd/SBA-15-900 N[Figure not available: see fulltext.]