UV Light Driven Selective Oxidation of Cyclohexane in Gaseous Phase Using Mo-Functionalized Zeolites

Abstract

Heterogeneous photocatalysis in the gas phase has been applied as a promising technique for organic syntheses in mild conditions. Modified zeolites have been used under UV irradiation as novel photocatalysts. In this study, we preliminarily investigated the photoxidation of cyclohexane on ferrierite and MoOx-functionalized ferrierite in a gas–solid continuous flow reactor. In the presence of UV light, MoOx-functionalized ferrierite showed the formation of benzene and cyclohexene as reaction products, indicating the occurrence of photocatalysed cyclohexane oxydehydrogenation. By contrast, unmodified ammonium ferrierite exhibited relevant activity for total oxidation of cyclohexane to carbon dioxide and water. The influence of Mo loading on cyclohexane conversion and products selectivity was evaluated.

Introduction of the year 2020

“…32 A special issue focused on the surface aspects of semiconductor photochemistry was published in Surfaces (editors: prof. E. Selli and Dr. M. V. Dozzi) 33 by assembling different conference papers from the ''7th International Conference on Semiconductor Photochemistry (SP7)'', including the UV light-driven oxidation of cyclohexane in the gaseous phase to cyclohexene and benzene in the presence of Mo-functionalized zeolites. 34 The journal Topics in Catalysis deserve a thematic volume entitled ''Heterogeneous Photocatalysts: From Fundamentals to Innovative Applications'' (editors: D. V. N. Vo, V.-H. Nguyen, L. Palmisano, C.-W. Huang, S. Nanda, T. D. Nguyen). 35 In the issue, the photocatalytic degradation of the industrial dye Basic Red 46 (Fig.…”

Surface Aspects of Semiconductor Photochemistry

“…In relation to heterogeneous photocatalysis investigations for the chemical synthesis of added-value organic compounds, the contribution of Vaiano et al [45] deals with the preliminary study on the selective photocatalyzed cyclohexane oxydehydrogenation to benzene and cyclohexene products in the presence of MoO x -functionalized ferrierite zeolites in a gas-solid continuous flow reactor under UV irradiation. A possible mechanism initiated by the photoactivation of polymolybdate species for the selective conversion of cyclohexane is proposed, which sheds light on the peculiar role played by the interaction between the zeolite and the molybdenum oxide species in modifying the catalyst selectivity.…”