OXIDATION AND AMMOXIDATION OF TOLUENE AND BENZYL ALCOHOL OVER SILICO-ALUMINOPHOSPHATE AND METAL-SILICO-ALUMINOPHOSPHATE CATALYSTS

The silico-aluminophosphate (SAPO), vanadium-aluminophosphate (VAPO) a nd vanadium-silico-aluminophosphate (VSAPO) catalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Depending on silicon and vanadium content, th e as-synthesized molecular sieves Were thermally stable or unstable up to 400-450 degrees C. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, IR, TG and sorption methods. The oxidation and ammoxidation reactions of tol uene and benzylalcohol were carried out over SAPO, VAPO and VSAPO cata lysts. The catalysts were selective in the oxidation and ammoxidation of toluene. The yield of benzonitrile was 20-92 wt.-%. The vanadium an d Sb2O3 modification enhances the yield of benzonitrile substantially. The benzoic acid was not observed in the products. In the ammoxidatio n of benzylalcohol, the yield of benzonitrile was 18%-74%. The selecti vity of benzonitrile was comparatively lower. The reaction scheme is d iscussed. We report silico-aluminophosphate, VSAPO and TiSAPO, as-synt hesized molecular sieves, as a new and novel class of oxidation and am moxidation catalysts.