Continuous heterogeneous cyclohexanone ammoximation reaction using a monolithic TS-1/cordierite catalyst

Abstract

In this study, a hydrothermal synthesis was developed to prepare a thin titanium silicalite-1 catalyst layer in the internal channels of the honeycomb cordierite support, which was used in a continuous heterogeneous reaction. The as-prepared thin TS-1 catalyst layer was characterized by SEM, XRD, UV-vis and ATR-FTIR methods. Multiple hydrothermal syntheses were used for controlling the crystalline growth to optimize catalytic activity and lifetime. Moreover, a monolithic TS-1/cordierite reactor with external looping was utilized to investigate the characteristics of the continuous heterogeneous ammoximation reaction without the organic solvent tert-butanol (TBA). The reaction results showed that the conversion of cyclohexanone and selectivity of oxime approached more than 0.96 and 0.98, respectively. When compared with the reaction using TBA as the reaction solvent, the activity of the monolithic TS-1/cordierite showed no differences except for a longer lifetime.