Heteropolyacids (HPAs), such as phosphotungstic acid (PTA) and phosphomolybdic acid (PMA), with the Keggin structure are well known as solid superacids with estimated pKa of -13. High acidity of HPAs enabled their use as highly active homogeneous catalysts. However, homogeneous catalysis has many drawbacks, e.g. difficult and expensive separation of the used catalyst from the reaction mixture and its recycling. Application of pure HPAs in heterogeneous catalysis is limited by their low surface area and solubility in polar solvents. For increasing their surface area, HPAs should be immobilized on solid support. The objective of this work is the development of an active and stable HPA-containing catalyst for synthesis of long chain alkylbenzenes, which are essential precursors in the manufacture of surfactants. To prevent leachability of HPA from the support, it was covalently bonded into the silica matrix via Si‑O‑W bridges. The catalysts were obtained by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with PTA using sol-gel method in the presence of various surfactants as pore-forming agents. The synthesis was conducted by simultaneous addition of 20% HCl and ethanol solution of a mixture of TEOS and PTA to a solution of a surfactant. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 24 h. The obtained product was filtered, washed, air-dried, and calcined for total removal of a surfactant from pores. Use of Pluronic P123 as a non-ionic pore-forming agent produced the most acidic material. The synthesized mesoporous materials were tested as heterogeneous catalysts in liquid-phase alkylation of mesitylene by long-chain alkenes. They demonstrated higher activity than well-known zeolite HY. The analysis of catalyst recovered after the alkylation indicated no PTA leaching from silica matrix. Obtained superacidic mesoporous materials can potentially replace hazardous liquid Lewis acids currently used for long-chain alkylbenzene synthesis in petrochemical industry.

Submitted by Edileide Reis (leyde-landy@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-23T14:28:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Walter Gomes Junior.pdf: 2468331 bytes, checksum: a8f65f5330af597dd96c972cdf079013 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-04-23T14:28:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Walter Gomes Junior.pdf: 2468331 bytes, checksum: a8f65f5330af597dd96c972cdf079013 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Os heteropoliácidos são polioxometalatos, compostos de um cluster óxido, com prótons associados, apresentando alta acidez de Brönsted, que tem atraído interesse acadêmico e industrial, devido a capacidade de promover catálise “verde”, atuando como catalisador homogênea e heterogênea. Diversas reações orgânicas já foram conduzidas neste sistema catalítico, sendo que a acilação Friedel-Crafts do metoxinaftaleno (2-MN) com anidrido acético (Ac2O) e as condensações de Claisen-Schmidt da acetofenona com benzaldeídos foram testados neste trabalho utilizando heteropoliácidos do tipo Keggin mássico (HPW), suportado em sílica (HPW-SiO2) e na forma de sal de césio (Cs2,2H0,8PW) e de potássio (K2,5H0,5PW). A acilação Friedel-Crafts do 2-MN com anidrido acético foi realizada em fase líquida, utilizando diversos solventes. Os melhores resultados de conversão e seletividade foram obtidos com nitrobenzeno. A máxima conversão foi obtida para concentrações iniciais de reagentes equivalentes ([2-MN]0 = [Ac2O]0). Dos catalisadores utilizados, as melhores conversões foram obtidas com o HPW mássico, que também se mostrou mais seletivo ao 2-acetil-6-metoxinaftaleno , chegando a 90,1%, a 130ºC em 1h de reação. O isômero cineticamente favorável, 1-acetil-2-metoxinaftaleno é formado e logo convertido a 2-acetil-6-metoxinaftaleno a 130ºC em nitrobenzeno. A temperatura de reação afeta a seletividade, mas tem pouco efeito na conversão do 2-MN. As reações de condensação de Claisen-Schmidt da acetofenona com benzaldeídos substituídos (benzaldeido, 4-clorobenzaldeído, 4-nitrobenzaldeído, 4- metoxibenzaldeído e 4-hidroxibenzaldeído) para a síntese de chalconas conduzidas sem o uso de solventes, se mostraram muito efetivas, com conversões e seletividade superiores a 60% e 90%, respectivamente, sobre HPW mássico, em fase homogênea, com uso de pequenas quantidades de catalisador (razão molar substrato/catalisador = 200 ou superior). Os sais de césio e de potássio apresentaram resultados modestos, sendo que estes materiais conduziram reações em fase heterogênea. As reações com benzaldeídos substituídos mostraram grande influência dos grupos substituintes. Além do ótimo desempenho catalítico, esses materiais mostraram possibilidade de regeneração e re-utilização. / Salvador

Abstract: Silica gels containing embedded heteropolyacids were synthesized in acidic media by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane with phosphotungstic or phosphomolybdic acids using the sol-gel technique. Surfactants dodecylamine, sodium dodecylsulfate, trimethylstearylammonium chloride, and Pluronic P123 were used as templates. The effect of the synthesis conditions on their structure and morphology was studied. All materials were mesoporous but contained micropores in their structures. Presence of bands of Keggin structures in fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra along with absence of X-ray diffraction patterns of crystalline heteropolyacids confirmed their fine incorporation into silica network. Particle sizes of modified materials were 500–1100 nm except for the W-containing sample obtained with trimethylstearylammonium chloride, which was significantly lower. This unusual effect was attributed to stabilization of primary silica nanoparticles by interactions between the surfactant and heteropolyacid. High ratio heteropolyacid/tetraethoxysilane resulted in partial loss of porosity. Obtained results might be used for optimization of synthesis of effective catalysts and adsorbents containing heteropolyacids in mesoporous structure. Graphical Abstract: [InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.]

Silica gels containing incorporated heteropolyacids (HPAs) were synthesized in acidic media by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with phosphotungstic or phosphomolybdic acids using the sol-gel technique. The effect of the synthesis conditions on their structure and morphology was studied. Yields of modified materials were somewhat lower compared to non-modified silica gels. All materials were mesoporous but contained micropores in their structures. Presence of bands of Keggin's structures in FT-IR spectra along with absence of XRD patterns of crystalline HPAs confirmed their fine incorporation into silica network. Particle sizes of modified materials were 500-1100 nm except for the W-containing sample obtained with trimethylstearylammonium chloride, which was significantly lower. This unusual effect was attributed to stabilization of primary silica nanoparticles by interactions between the surfactant and HPA. High ratio HPA/TEOS resulted in partial loss of porosity. Obtained results might be used for optimization of synthesis of effective catalysts and adsorbents containing HPAs in mesoporous structure.

Silica gels containing incorporated heteropolyacids (HPAs) were synthesized in acidic media by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with phosphotungstic or phosphomolybdic acids using sol-gel technique. Effect of the synthesis conditions on their structure and morphology was studied. Yields of modified materials were some lower as compared to non-modified silica gels. All materials were mesoporous but contained micropores in their structures. Presence of bands of Keggin’s structures in FT-IR spectra along with absence of XRD patterns of crystalline HPAs confirmed their fine incorporation into silica network. Particle sizes of modified materials were 800-1100 nm excepting for W-containing sample obtained with trimethylstearylammonium chloride. This unusual effect was attributed to stabilization of primary silica nanoparticles by interaction between surfactant and HPA. High ratio HPA/TEOS resulted in partial loss of porosity. Obtained results might be used for optimization of synthesis of effective catalysts and adsorbents containing HPAs in mesoporous structure.