Aerobic oxidation of propene over amorphous zirconia impregnated with titanium sulfate

Direct propene oxidation with molecular O-2 was performed at 428 K under at mospheric pressure over titanium sulfate-modified zirconia (STi/Z) and sulf ated-zirconia (SZ) catalysts, which were prepared by direct impregnation of Ti-IV sulfate and ammonium sulfate solution onto amorphous zirconia, respe ctively. The 7.5%STi/Z catalyst exhibited the highest propene conversion (5 .6%) under the experimental conditions. C-3-Oxygenates such as propene oxid e (PO) and acetone were detected as products with C-4-C-6 hydrocarbons. The catalytic performances depended on the amounts of surface sites for NH3 ad sorption, which could be associated with sulfate content, calcination tempe rature and reaction time. Molecular oxygen forms oxygenates, and reduces ca rbonaceous deposits.