Comparative Study of Catalytic Oxidation of Ethanol to Acetaldehyde Using Fe(III) Dispersed on Sb2O5 Grafted on SiO2 and on Untreated SiO2 Surfaces

Abstract

Fe(III) was supported on Sb(V) oxide grafted on the silica gel surface and directly on the silica gel surface using ion-exchange and impregnation processes producing Fe/Sb/SiO2 and Fe/SiO2, respectively. The catalytic conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde was much more efficient using Fe/Sb/SiO2 than Fe/SiO2 as catalyst. This higher efficiency of the former catalyst takes into account two aspects: a) the new phase FeSbO4 formed when Fe/Sb/SiO2 is heat treated and, b) it is higher dispersion on the matrix.

Keywords

• modified silica
• silica supported iron antimony
• phase ethanol oxidation