Styrene epoxidation with t-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by nanometer TiO2(I)

The catalysts of nanometer TiO2/EtOH, nanometer TiO2/i-PrOH and nanometer T iO2/EtOH-BuOH were prepared by; the liquid-phase method from Ti(SO4)(2) in different alcohols. The properties of the catalysts were characterized by T G-DTA, IR, XRD and TEM methods. The results showed that the nanometer TiO2/ i-PrOH was 20 nm x 20 nm anatase particle with an excellent thermal stabili ty. The activities and selectivities of the catalysts in styrene epoxidatio n with t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBPH) were studied and compared with: the com mercial TiO2. When the oxidation. was carried out under a suitable conditio n the main product and by product were styrene peroxide and phenylformaldeh yde, respectively. The conversion of styrene and the selectivity of epoxide at 80 degrees C were 3, 4% and 70.2% over the catalyst of nanometer TiO2/i -PrOH, respectively. The activity of commercial TiO2 was only 1/3 that of n anometer TiO2/i-PrOH. The iso-propanol supported nanometer TiO2 improved ob viously the activity and selectivity in the epoxidation of styrene.