Highly efficient synthesis of methyl ethyl ketone oxime through ammoximation over Ti-MOR catalyst

The liquid-phase ammoximation of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) to methyl ethyl ketone oxime (MEKO) with ammonia and hydrogen peroxide was conducted over MOR-type titanosilicate (Ti-MOR), which was prepared from highly dealuminated mordenite and TiCl₄ vapor by a secondary method of gas-solid phase reaction. The effects of reaction parameters on this reaction were studied systematically in a bath-type reactor. Based on the optimized reaction conditions, Ti-MOR was further employed as the catalyst for the ammoximation of MEK to MEKO in a continuous slurry reactor. This catalyst exhibited good catalytic activity and excellent MEKO selectivity in comparison to TS-1. Moreover, in terms of ketone conversion, oxime selectivity, coke resistance, and lifetime, Ti-MOR possessed the same advantages as the Ti-MWW catalyst prepared by structural rearrangement.