Catalytic performance of metal oxide modified SiMCM-41 catalysts in diphenyl carbonate synthesis

Decomposition of CCl₄ into diphenyl carbonate (DPC) was examined over metal oxides modified SiMCM-41. ZnO/SiMCM-41 and Fe₂O₃/SiMCM-41 showed high activity in DPC synthesis. Although many other metal oxides, such as La₂O₃, CuO, Al₂O₃ and alkali or alkaline earth oxide, were success in destruction of CCl₄, they displayed nearly no activity on DPC synthesis. ZnO/SiMCM-41 and Fe₂O₃/SiMCM-41 were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Raman, ²⁹Si MAS NMR and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, and results showed that ferric and zinc oxide were supported onto SiMCM-41. The well ZnO dispersion in SiMCM-41 channels and the weak electrostatic interaction between chlorine anion and Zn²⁺ play an important role for the high activity of ZnO/SiMCM-41 in decomposition of CCl₄ into DPC.