Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Ce-MCM-48 as a Mesoporous Molecular Sieve

Cerium incorporated MCM-48 molecular sieves have been hydrothermally synthesized by both a mixed template and a variable pH approach. The samples were characterized by various physicochemical methods, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy, XRF spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption. These results reveal that cerium is incorporated in MCM-48 in the form of well-dispersed tetra-coodinated cerium ion. Maintaining the proper concentration of cerium and adjusting the pH allows for a more ordered structure with a much higher specific surface area than that of MCM-48. Ce-MCM-48 was employed in the liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexane with aqueous H2O2. The results showed that Ce-MCM-48 is more active as a catalyst for the liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexane. The oxidation conversion catalyzed by Ce-MCM-48 is 8.3 %-14.2% higher than that catalyzed by MCM-48 and the selectivity for the main products increase by 63.4%-68.8%. Accordingly, Ce-MCM-48 has been shown to have important potential applications.