An immobilized molybdenum acetylacetonate complex on expanded starch for the epoxidation of stillingia oil

Abstract

An active heterogeneous catalyst, namely a molybdenum acetylacetonate complex immobilized on expanded corn starch (ECS-MoO₂(acac)₂), was prepared and its catalytic activity for epoxidation of stillingia oil with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) was investigated. The heterogeneous catalysts were characterized using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analyses, scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. By using this catalyst, an environmentally benign process for epoxide production in a heterogeneous manner was developed. The catalyst could be recovered easily and reused without significant degradation in its activity for at least 5 times.