Catalytic epoxidation of alkenes over supported manganese oxide with hydrogen peroxide: effect of supports and manganese loading

Manganese oxides supported on γ-Al₂O₃, amorphous SiO₂, MCM-41, and TiO₂ prepared by an impregnation method were used as heterogeneous catalysts for epoxidation of alkenes with 30 % H₂O₂ in the presence of NaHCO₃ aqueous solution. The effect of support and manganese loading on their activity was studied. The 1.3-MnO _x /γ-Al₂O₃ exhibited superior epoxidazing activity of styrene, compared with other supported MnO _x . Hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, UV–vis and ESR analyses suggested that Mn²⁺ (catalytic activity species) dominated in 1.3 % MnO _x /γ-Al₂O₃ due to a strong interaction between MnO _x and γ-Al₂O₃. Recycling studies showed the catalyst was a heterogeneous one and retained its activity after recycling four times.